What is a “fibrous papule of the nose”?

A fibrous papule of the nose is a relatively common, small (usually 2 to 3 mm), dome-shaped, asymptomatic papule usually located on the lower portion of the nose. The color is variable and may be skin-colored, white, or red. Less commonly, it may occur on other parts of the face. Microscopically, fibrous papules are composed of fibroblasts that may be fusiform, stellate, or multinucleated, and are associated with abundant thick collagen bundles that are oriented around hair follicles or dilated blood vessels. Their greatest significance lies in their clinical similarity to an early basal cell carcinoma. Fibrous papules of the nose are histologically identical to the angiofibromas found in patients with tuberous sclerosis, and most authorities regard fibrous papules to be a solitary form of angiofibroma.