Angiofibromas, Facial, in Tuberous

Synonyms

Fibrous papule

Definition

Angiofibromas are tiny, smooth-surfaced papules that are found on the body. They are most commonly seen on the nose and the medial portions of the cheeks, but they may also be present on the chin, forehead, and eyelids. These papules are fibrous tissue composed of collagen and vascular elements of the skin and can vary in appearance, from red or flesh colored on light skin, to reddish brown and dark brown on more highly pigmented skin. While a single angiofibroma is most likely benign, the presence of multiple angiofibromas on the body may suggest that there is an underlying medical condition such as tuberous sclerosis (“adenoma sebaceum”) Birt-Hogg-Dube syndrome, or multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1.

A majority of patients with tuberous sclerosis have multiple angiofibromas, which can range anywhere from as few as three to hundreds. Angiofibromas may occasionally be confused for basal cell carcinomas. In order to rule out the aforementioned...