Atypical
Fibroxanthoma
What is
it?
Atypical
fibroxanthoma is a skin tumor that usually appears on
the head and neck.
Who gets
it?
Atypical
fibroxanthoma is most often seen in the elderly and
occurs equally in males and females.
What
causes it?
Atypical
fibroxanthoma is caused by overexposure to the sun or
by radiation therapy. Both can cause the abnormal
growth of tumor cells called spindle cells.
What are
the symptoms?
Atypical
fibroxanthoma causes small (less than 1 inch in
diameter) growths on the skin in the areas that
received excessive sun exposure, usually around the
ears, nose, and cheeks, or in areas that received
radiation therapy. The growths may grow rapidly in
size. Larger growths may appear on the arms and legs.
The growths are usually non-cancerous (benign), but
malignancies have occurred.
How is it
diagnosed?
Because
atypical fibroxanthoma can look like other skin
cancers, your doctor should perform a thorough exam
and take your age, the location of the tumor, its
appearance, and your medical history into account when
making a diagnosis. Your doctor will remove a small
sample of the tumor, called a biopsy, to examine under
a microscope.
What is
the treatment?
Atypical
fibroxanthoma is treated by surgically removing the
tumor. A technique called Mohs’ micrographic surgery
may be used to remove tumor tissue surgically layer by
layer. The surgeon examines the removed tissue under a
microscope and continues removing layers of tissue
until all the tumor cells are gone.
Self-care
tips
You can
help prevent atypical fibroxanthoma by avoiding sun
exposure during the peak hours of 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. If
you do spend time in the sun, wear sunscreen with a
SPF of at least 15, a hat, and light, protective
clothing.
This information has been designed as a comprehensive and quick reference
guide written by our health care reviewers. The health information written
by our authors is intended to be a supplement to the care provided by your
physician. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for
professional medical advice.
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