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Cutis 2019 Jun;103(6):340-342

Department of Dermatology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA.

A 53-year-old woman presented with an asymptomatic nodule on the distal subungual right fifth fingernail that had slowly enlarged over the last year. An excisional biopsy showed an acanthotic epidermis surmounted by hyperkeratotic scale as well as a fibrotic dermis with collagen bundles assuming a vertical orientation to the long axis of the epidermis, characteristic of an acquired digital fibrokeratoma (ADF). There was no sign of recurrence 4 months following excision. Read More

J Clin Aesthet Dermatol 2019 May 1;12(5):17-18. Epub 2019 May 1.

Drs. Garg, Sondhu, Kaur, are with the Department of Dermatology and Venereology and Dr. Punia is with the Department of Pathology, all at the Government Medical College and Hospital in Chandigarh, India.

Skin Appendage Disord 2019 Feb 29;5(2):111-113. Epub 2018 Aug 29.

Clinic of Dermatology, Brugmann University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium.

Acquired digital fibrokeratoma (ADFK) is a benign tumor. Clinically, it usually presents as skin-colored, slow-growing firm fibrous projection with a characteristic hyperkeratotic collarette at its base. It has a predilection for the periungual tissue. Read More

Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 2018 09 24;162. Epub 2018 Sep 24.

UMCG-Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, afd. Plastische chirurgie.

A 23-year-old woman had a painful, growing mass close to the nail of her left index finger. The differential diagnosis consisted of acquired digital fibrokeratoma, digital fibromyxoma, periungual fibroma or verruca vulgaris. Surgical excision of the mass was performed, and histopathological analysis revealed a subungual exostosis. Read More

Int J Dermatol 2019 Feb 19;58(2):151-158. Epub 2018 May 19.

Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA.

Acquired digital fibrokeratoma (ADFK) is a rare, benign, fibrous tumor that most often occurs on fingers. It may resemble a rudimentary supernumerary digit and is often misdiagnosed as another common benign condition, such as common wart. It is typically asymptomatic and occurs as a solitary nodule less than 1 cm in diameter. Read More

J Dermatol 2018 Aug 27;45(8):e234-e235. Epub 2018 Feb 27.

Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.

Presse Med 2016 Jun 12;45(6 Pt 1):608-10. Epub 2016 May 12.

CHU Ibn Sina, université Mohammed V, faculté de médecine et de pharmacie, service de dermatologie et vénérologie, Rabat, Maroc.

Ann Dermatol Venereol 2016 May 23;143(5):407-8. Epub 2016 Apr 23.

Service de dermatologie, hôpital Saint-André, CHU de Bordeaux, 1, rue Jean-Burguet, 33076 Bordeaux cedex, France. Electronic address:

J Dermatol 2016 Jan 5;43(1):107-8. Epub 2015 Oct 5.

Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan.

Int J Dermatol 2015 Nov 30;54(11):1214-25. Epub 2015 Jul 30.

Veterans Affairs Hospital & SUNY Downstate, Brooklyn, NY, USA.

There is little discussion of tumors arising in the digits in the dermatology literature. The patient with an undifferentiated mass of the finger is frequently encountered in the clinic, and variances in presentation of common and uncommon entities pose a challenge that may prompt further investigation for proper diagnosis and treatment. In this review, the authors illustrate the approach and work-up of an unknown digit mass of a 45-year-old female patient. Read More

Presse Med 2015 Jul-Aug;44(7-8):843-5. Epub 2015 Jun 3.

CHU Ibn Sina, université Mohamed V, service de dermatologie et vénérologie, Rabat, Maroc.

J Cutan Pathol 2015 Sep 1;42(9):652-6. Epub 2015 Jun 1.

Department of Dermatology, Inselspital Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland.

Acquired periungual fibrokeratomas are benign fibrous tissue tumors and are considered as the topographical variant of acquired digital fibrokeratoma. They usually present as solitary tumors. In some instance, the entity may appear in multibranched fashion. Read More

Int J Surg Case Rep 2015 25;10:187-90. Epub 2015 Mar 25.

FRCS, Consultant Orthopaedics Surgeon, Royal Derby Hospital, United Kingdom. Electronic address:

Introduction: Acquired digital fibrokeratoma is an uncommon, benign fibrous tumour that usually occurs in adults as a solitary lesion with a typical size of less than 1cm.

Case Presentation: A 48-year-old Afro-Caribbean man presented to our foot and ankle clinic with a long-standing growth over the plantar aspect of the distal phalanx of the left great toe. The growth was painful and affected the patient's mobility. Read More

J Foot Ankle Surg 2014 Jul-Aug;53(4):449-52. Epub 2013 Nov 20.

Chief Resident, Department of Foot and Ankle Surgery, Regions Hospital and HealthPartners Institute for Education and Research, St. Paul, MN. Electronic address:

Acral fibrokeratoma is a relatively rare, benign lesion that is typically found on the fingers and toes but can also be found on the palms and soles. Several case reports have been published of this rare lesion, with only a few investigators describing lesions of the feet. The techniques of using skin from a portion of the mass to close the defect left from mass excision have been poorly reported. Read More

Ann Plast Surg 2015 Mar;74(3):304-5

From the Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA.

Acquired digital fibrokeratomas are benign, rare tumors that develop most commonly on the fingers. They can have an appearance of a rudimentary supernumerary digit or be misdiagnosed as a more common condition, such as verruca vulgaris. There are no case reports described in the plastic surgery literature. Read More

Australas J Dermatol 2012 Feb 12;53(1):47-8. Epub 2011 Jul 12.

Department of Clinical Medicine and Immunological Sciences, Section of Dermatology, University of Siena, Italy.

Ann Dermatol 2011 Feb 28;23(1):64-6. Epub 2011 Feb 28.

Department of Dermatology, Maryknoll Hospital, Busan, Korea.

Acquired digital fibrokeratoma is an uncommon, benign fibrous tumor which usually occurs in adults as a solitary lesion. The most frequent locations are fingers and toes and the size of the tumor is generally small, around 3~5 mm. An 18-year-old female presented with a solitary, skin-colored, round and protruded nodule of the left great toe. Read More

Dermatol Online J 2010 Oct 15;16(10). Epub 2010 Oct 15.

Division of Dermatopathology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.

Acquired digital fibrokeratoma is a rare benign fibroepithelial tumor that typically presents as a solitary asymptomatic nodule on the finger or toe. Middle-aged adults are most commonly affected. Here we discuss an unusual case of acquired digital fibrokeratoma presenting as a cluster of multiple nodules on the sole of a 15-year-old boy. Read More

Dermatol Online J 2009 Jan 15;15(1). Epub 2009 Jan 15.

Department of Dermatology, National Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.

A 35-year-old male presented with a slowly growing keratotic tumor on the plantar aspect of his left second toe. Over a ten-year period, the projecting tumor had grown to the size of 7 x 18 mm without causing any symptoms. Three months prior to presentation, a red and polypoid papule of 5 x 5 mm-size began to develop within the original tumor. Read More

Clin Exp Dermatol 2009 Mar;34(2):257-9

Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2009 Jan-Feb;75(1):72

Department of Dermatology and STD, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Pondicherry-605 006, India.

Dermatol Online J 2008 Dec 15;14(12):10. Epub 2008 Dec 15.

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

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 slightly raised skin at the base. Read More

Cutis 2007 Aug;80(2):137-40

Oakwood Southshore Medical Center, Trenton, Michigan, USA.

Acquired periungual fibrokeratoma (APF) is an uncommon lesion located around the nail and related to acquired digital fibrokeratoma. Histologic features of APF include a core of thick collagen bundles oriented along the longitudinal axis of the tumor and a very characteristic pseudo-nail plate formation. Different terms have been used to describe these lesions, and there has been no consensus on the terminology for some years. Read More

Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2001 Sep-Oct;67(5):273

Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2002 May-Jun;68(3):179-80

Department of Skin and STD, Base Hospital, Barrockpore, West Bengal-743 101, India.

Acquired digital fibrokeratoma is a rarely reported disorder, especially in the Indian literature. We report our findings on one such case, occurring at an unusual site. Read More

Am J Clin Dermatol 2007 ;8(4):243-5

Department of Dermatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Chiayi, Chiayi, and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan.

Aggressive digital papillary adenocarcinoma (ADPAC) is a rare cutaneous malignant tumor. We report on a 42-year-old man presenting with a nontender firm nodule on his right thumb that had been present for 3 years. The lesion clinically resembled an acquired digital fibrokeratoma, but was found to be an ADPAC after pathologic study of the excised specimens. Read More

Cutis 2007 Feb;79(2):129-32

Department of Dermatology, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Capa, Turkey.

Acquired digital fibrokeratoma (ADF) is an uncommon benign tumor of fibrous tissue that presents as smooth, dome-shaped or fingerlike, flesh-colored papules that are mostly located on the distal extremities. As it can easily be misdiagnosed for other common benign lesions such as viral warts, which usually are not subject to routine histopathologic examination, it might be underreported. We report 13 patients with ADF diagnosed in our clinic in the past 4 1/2 years. Read More

J Am Acad Dermatol 2003 May;48(5 Suppl):S67-8

Department of Dermatology, Jichi Medical School, Tochigi, Japan.

We describe a 33-year-old patient with a giant skin tumor on her right big toe. The tumor was characterized by unusual clinical manifestations including huge size and papillomatous surface. Chronic long-standing irritation as a result of aerobic exercise may have been involved in the development of giant fibrokeratoma with papillomatous surface. Read More

Hum Pathol 2001 Jul;32(7):704-14

Department of Soft Tissue Pathology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, DC 20306-6000, USA.

This report describes the clinicopathologic features and immunohistochemical findings identified in 37 cases of a distinctive soft tissue tumor that has a predilection for the hands and feet. The study group included 25 male and 12 female subjects ranging in age from 14 to 72 (mean, 43; median, 46) years. The patients presented with solitary masses 0. Read More

Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 1998 Mar-Apr;64(2):78-9

From the Department of Dermato-Venereology All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi-110029, India, .

Am Fam Physician 1995 Oct;52(5):1365-7

121 EVAC Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

Acquired digital fibrokeratomas are benign growths that usually occur on the fingers. These growths have a characteristic clinical and histopathologic appearance and may be easily recognized and treated by family physicians. It is important not to confuse these lesions with other common, possibly malignant, clinical entities. Read More

Cutis 1994 Aug;54(2):93-4

Department of Dermatology, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan 48202.

Acquired digital fibrokeratomas are unusual benign tumors of fibrous tissue. A case of recurrent acquired digital fibrokeratoma with a striking clinical presentation is presented and differential diagnosis as well as treatment of these lesions are reviewed. Read More

Indian J Lepr 1992 Apr-Jun;64(2):205-8

Dr Bandorawalla Leprosy Hospital, Pune.

Arch Dermatol 1988 Oct;124(10):1559-60, 1562-3

Wilford Hall US Air Force Medical Center, Lackland (Tex) Air Force Base.

J Am Acad Dermatol 1988 Feb;18(2 Pt 1):369-72

Clinic of Dermatology, Akademisch Ziekenhuis, University of Ghent, Belgium.

Fifteen periungual fibromas from nine patients were studied histologically. The lesions were elongated. Capillaries were found in the distal part surrounded by thin collagen bundles whereas the proximal part was made up of dense, closely packed fibers. Read More

Med Cutan Ibero Lat Am 1987 ;15(4):337-40

Servicio de Dermatología, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid.

Acquired digital fibrokeratomas are uncommon benign fibrous tumors frequently situated on fingers. Histopathologic findings include an acanthotic hyperkeratotic epidermal envelope that surrounds a core of normal appearing connective tissue. Clinical, histopathological aspects and differential diagnosis are discussed. Read More

Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 1986 May-Jun;52(3):179-180

A 38 year old male developed acquired digital fibrokeratomas on the right hand associated with Dupuytren's contracture on the left hand. The possible relationship between these two fibrodysplastic conditions is considered. Read More

J Am Acad Dermatol 1985 May;12(5 Pt 1):816-21

Histologic examination of fifty cases of acquired digital fibrokeratoma discloses three histologic variants of these lesions, viz: a tumor composed of thick dense and closely packed collagen bundles, a variant with an increased number of fibroblasts in the cutis, and a type with an edematous and poorly cellular structure. The acquired digital fibrokeratoma is considered as resulting from a neoformation of collagen by the fibroblasts. The acanthosis of the epidermis is probably secondary to the dermal alteration. Read More

Cutis 1979 Jul;24(1):50-1

In 1965, Steele reported three cases of garlic-clove fibromas that histologically resembled the acquired digital fibrokeratoma described by Bart in 1968. We present a case that clinically resembles garlic-clove fibroma and fits the histologic criteria of acquired digital fibrokeratoma. We believe they are the same entity. Read More

Cutis 1979 Mar;23(3):304-6

Three patients with acquired digital fibrokeratoma are presented herein. This tumor may be confused clinically with other lesions including supernumerary digits, fibromas, neuromas, and neurofibromas. As a result, the histologic picture is most helpful in making a correct diagnosis. Read More

Hautarzt 1978 Dec;29(12):659-60

A case of acquired digital fibrokeratoma is presented. The asymptomatic cylindrical tumor preferably occurs during the third to sixth decade of life and affects mainly the fingers. Histologically one finds a cylindriform connective tissue proliferation surrounded by an akantholytic band of epidermis with papillomatous changes and hyperkeratosis. Read More

Arch Dermatol 1977 Nov;113(11):1564-8

A rare periungual tumor, clinically and histologically identical to the acquired digital fibrokeratoma, is discussed in association with the differential diagnosis of acral digital nodules. It is believed that this is the first report that conclusively links the previously described garlic-clove fibroma with the acquired digital fibrokeratoma. Read More

Ann Dermatol Venereol 1977 Oct;104(10):611-5

The acquired fibro-keratoma is a benign fibro-epithelial tumor of acquired nature. I was set apart as a distinct entity in 1968 by Bart et al. who named it "acquired digital fibro-keratoma". Read More

J Am Podiatry Assoc 1976 Jul;66(7):522-4

Indian J Dermatol 1975 Jan;20(2):27-8

Przegl Dermatol 1973 May-Jun;60(3):347-52

Arch Belg Dermatol Syphiligr 1972 Oct-Dec;28(4):387-94

Dermatologica 1971 ;143(1):21-8

Hifuka Kiyo 1970 Nov;65(3):305-7