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Acquired fibrokeratoma presenting as a giant pedunculated lesion on the heel

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Acquired fibrokeratoma presenting as a giant pedunculated lesion on the heel
Paula Martins de Freitas MD, Marcus Henrique de SB Xavier MD, Gabriela Blatt Pereira MD, Mayra C Rochael MD PhD, José Luiz de Oliveira Cortes MD, Luis Peres Quevedo MD, Adolpho A Araripe Jr MD
Dermatology Online Journal 14 (12): 10

Universidade Federal Fluminense, Hospital Universitário Antônio Pedro - Serviço de Dermatologia. Niterói, Rio de Janeiro - Brasil. marcus_hx@hotmail.com

Abstract

Acquired digital fibrokeratomas (ADF) are benign and uncommon lesions consisting of collagenous papules and nodules covered by hyperkeratotic epidermis. These tumors occur mainly on the fingers and toes and infrequently on the palms and soles. They may possibly be triggered by a reaction to a trauma, ADF usually present as small and solitary dome-shaped lesions with a collarete of slighty raised skin at the base. We report a rare case of fibrokeratoma of the heel, presenting as a large and pedunculated nodule.



Clinical synopsis

A 50-year-old Brazilian man presented with a 12-year history of an asymptomatic pedunculated nodule on the right heel region (Figs. 1 & 2). The growth had slowly enlarged over the years. The patient denied any previous local trauma.


Figure 1Figure 2

Figure 3

On physical examination, the patient presented a 30 x 22 x 10 mm non-tender, skin colored, pedunculated firm nodule that protruded from his right heel towards the sole (Figs. 1 & 2). At the base of the nodule there was a ring of yellow keratin (Fig. 3). The clinical impression was cutaneous horn or fibrokeratoma. A shave excision was performed and the specimen was submitted for histopathologic study. Microscopic exam revealed a polipoid lesion, with epidermal hyperplasia and focal spongiosis. The bulk of the tumor consisted of collagen fibers perpendicularly arranged, accompanied by chronic inflammatory changes (Figs. 4 & 5). Elastic fibers were normal.


Figure 4Figure 5

Figure 6

The diagnosis of acquired fibrokeratoma was confirmed. The patient had no recurrence two months after the surgical procedure (Fig. 6).


Discussion

The name, acquired digital fibrokeratoma, was first coined by Bart et al. in 1968, who stated that the lesions resemble a "rudimentary supernumerary digit [1]." It is a benign tumor, almost always solitary. It can be seen in adults and does not show spontaneous regression. In most cases, ADF appears as a small solitary, painless, and skin colored lesion mainly on the fingers and toes, occasionally originating from the proximal nail fold. The tumor rarely can affect the palms and soles [2]. In general, persistent minor trauma has been suggested as the trigger for the development of the lesion, particularly on the digits [3].

There are a few reported cases of fibrokeratoma on the heel. Such tumors on the plantar surface have been recognized in the past, but not described in detail. Verallo [4] in his description of 32 cases of acquired digital fibrokeratoma indicated that six were actually located on sites other than digits, including palm and sole, but further detail of these nondigital fibrokeratomas were not given. The author suggests that since not all those lesions are on the digits, the term, acquired fibrokeratoma, would be more appropriate. It was not until Reed and Elmer [5] that the term acral was used to describe the location of acquired fibrokeratomas.

Fourteen years later, Cooper and Mackel [6] described a patient with a 30 mm diameter sessile tumor on the heel. Because it was tender and interfered with the patient's normal activities it was excised; there was no recurrence after six months of follow up. The authors decided to drop the terms, digital and acral, in describing the location of the lesion.

Spitalny and Lavery [7] described a 43-year-old Hispanic male with a painful, gigantic fibrokeratoma arising on the heel measuring 11 x 70 x 50 mm. As reported, the tumor was similar to fungiform papillae of the tongue and its appearance was reminiscent of the case presented by Cooper and Meckel [6]. Jaiswal et al. [8] described the case of a 38-year-old man with an asymptomatic, 15 x 20 mm, bullet shaped, pedunculated, firm nodule on the medial margin of left heel. The patient had a history of several repeated minor injuries prior to the onset of the tumor. He was treated with excision with no evidence of recurrence in the following couple of years. In 2004, Bron et al. [9] reported a case of giant fibrokeratoma, measuring 30 x 15 mm on the left heel, in a 77-year-old patient. They performed a shave excision of the lesion and the patient had no recurrence in one year of follow up.

Histologically, fibrokeratomas are benign fibroepithelial tumors marked by a hyperkeratotic and acanthotic epidermis with thickened, often branching, rete ridges. The core of the lesion is formed by thick, interwoven bundles of collagen, predominantly vertically oriented. Elastic fibers are usually present but are apt to be thin and sparse. Many tumors are highly vascular [10]. Based on the uncommon site, the pedunculated shape, and the large dimensions of the presented tumor, we agree that the name, acquired fibrokeratoma or acral fibrokeratoma, would be more appropriate than acquired digital fibrokeratoma.

Acknowledgments: We appreciate the language review by Lilian Bonilha Morais.

References

1. Bart RS, Andrade R, Kopf AW, Leider M. Acquired digital fibrokeratomas. Arch Dermatol. 1968 Feb;97(2):120-9. [PubMed]

2. Calonje E, MacKie RM. Soft-tissue tumors and tumour-like conditions. In : Burns T, Breathnach SM, Cox N, Griffiths C, editors. Rook's Textbook of Dermatology. 7th ed. Oxford: Blackwell Science; 2004. p.53.4-5.

3. Kakurai M, Yamada T, Kiyosawa T, Ohtsuki M, Nakagawa H. Giant acquired digital fibrokeratoma. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2003 May;48(5 Suppl):S67-8. [PubMed]

4. Verallo VV. Acquired digital fibrokeratomas. Br J Dermatol. 1968 Nov;80(11):730-6. [PubMed]

5. Reed RJ, Elmer LC. Multiple acral fibrokeratomas (a variant of prurigo nodularis). Discussion of classification of acral fibrous nodules and of histogenesis of acral fibrokeratomas. Arch Dermatol. 1971 Mar;103(3):287-97. [PubMed]

6. Cooper PH, Mackel SE. Acquired fibrokeratoma of the heel. Arch Dermatol. 1985 Mar;121(3):386-8. [PubMed]

7. Spitalny AD, Lavery LA. Acquired fibrokeratoma of the heel. J Foot Surg. 1992 Sep-Oct;31(5):509-11. [PubMed]

8. Jaiswal AK, Chatterjee M. Acquired (digital) fibrokeratoma. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2002 May-Jun;68(3):179-80. [PubMed]

9. Bron C, Noël B, Panizzon RG. Giant fibrokeratoma of the heel. Dermatology. 2004;208(3):271-2. [PubMed]

10. Heenam PJ. Tumors of fibrous tissue involving the skin. In: Elder DE, Elenitsas R, Johnson BL, Murphy GF, editors. Lever's Histopathology of the skin. 9th ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2005. p994.

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