Cryotherapy for dermatofibromas.

Abstract

Summary Twenty-seven patients with 35 dermatofibromas were treated with liquid nitrogen cryotherapy. The results were good or excellent in over 90% of cases. The addition of aspirin and clobetasol propionate to the regimen appeared to reduce side-effects. Dermatofibromas or histiocytomas are common, benign, skin tumours. They present as firm, well-defined dermal nodules on the extremities, particularly on the anterior surface of the lower leg. They occur 25 times more commonly in women than men. Treatment is usually requested on cosmetic grounds, although they are occasionally pruritic. Most authors advocate excision of the lesion when required1,2 despite reports of successful therapy with liquid nitrogen.3,4 Elton5, in reviewing the use of cryotherapy in dermatofibromas, advised personally against it. Excision of tumours on the leg, particularly on the anterior skin, can result in wide atrophic scarring, and may produce a result which is cosmetically less acceptable than the lesion being treated. We have treated 27 patients who had 35 dermatofibromas, all diagnosed clinically by cryosurgery, and assessed the results.