Myofibrosarcoma of the Nostril Sill after Excision of a Wart

Kim, Han Koo; Yu, Young Il; Kim, Seung Han; Kim, Seung Hong; Lee, Tae Jin

Abstract

Myofibroblasts are mesenchymal spindle cells that share morphologic and functional features with fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells, especially in relation to matrix production and contractility. Myofibroblastic sarcomas have been described recently and such lesions are relatively rare and almost unknown, especially developed in the skin. Most examples of myofibrosarcoma occur de novo. We herein report a case of solitary myofibrosarcoma occurred after several laser and pharmacological treatment of a wart. A 28-year-old woman had a 10-month history of small firm painless papule on the lower margin of her nostril. Her lesion was once treated with laser at a local clinic. At first visit to our hospital, the lesion was 0.4 x 0.3 cm solitary skin colored keratotic flat papule and it was diagnosed as a wart and ablated with carbon dioxide laser. Two subsequent recurrences occurred within 6 months and repeatedly ablated with the same laser. One year later the patient appeared with 1.5 x 1.5 cm pale red rubbery-firm nodule on the same site. On punch biopsy, it showed thickened collagen with mild inflammatory infiltrate. We performed intra-lesional triamcinolone injection every three weeks under the impression of hypertrophic scar after the wart removal, and no improvement was made and the lesion's growth was accelerated. On exicisional biopsy of lesion, a myofibroblastic tumor of uncertain malignant potential was suggested and subsequent wide excision and lateral lip advancement flap was done. The patient has been free of recurrence 14 months after wide excision. This report emphasizes the possibility that iatrogenic manipulation of the normal wound healing process may well contribute to the development of myofibrosarcoma.