Infantile digital fibromas

Abstract

A series of 15 digital lesions in 8 pediatric patients is presented. All infantile digital fibromas appear early in life at the distal or proximal interphalangeal joint level, characteristically involve the ulnar three digits, may be multicentric, and undergo rapid growth within a short time. Histology reveals deep dermal origin and intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies not observed in any other fibrous proliferative disorders. A viral etiology has never been proved. The lesions may recur despite wide excision followed by resurfacing with a flap or graft. This distinctive lesion has no adult counterpart and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of hard, immobile distal digital masses in children.