Spitz nevus
| Spitz nevus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Spitz nevus | |
| Specialty | Oncology, Dermatology |
| Prognosis | benign |
A Spitz nevus is a benign skin lesion. A type of melanocytic nevus, it affects the epidermis and dermis.[1]
It is also known as an epithelioid and spindle-cell nevus,[2] and misleadingly as a benign juvenile melanoma,[2]: 691 and Spitz's juvenile melanoma[3]). The name juvenile melanoma is generally no longer used as it is neither a melanoma, nor does it occur only in children.[4]
Pathophysiology
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The cause of Spitz nevi is not yet known. There is an association with sunburn, but causation is not established.[1] Genetic studies of Spitz nevi have shown that most cells have the normal number of chromosomes, however a minority (25%) of cells have been shown to contain extra copies of parts of some chromosomes, such as the short arm of chromosome 11 (11p).[1]
Diagnosis
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On histopathology, Spitz nevi characteristically have vertically arranged nests of nevus cells that have both a spindled and an epithelioid morphology. Apoptotic cells may be seen at the dermoepidermal junction. The main histologic differential diagnoses are pigmented spindle cell nevus and malignant melanoma.
Treatment
[edit]Surgical removal is usually performed, even though it is benign.[citation needed]
Epidemiology
[edit]Spitz nevi are uncommon. Their annual incidence was estimated in a coastal population of sub-tropical Queensland to be 1.4 cases per 100,000 people. For comparison, the annual incidence of melanoma in the same population, which is high by world standards[5] is 25.4 cases per 100,000 people.[4]
Although they are most commonly found on people in their first two decades of life,[1] the age range for people with Spitz nevi is from 6 months to 71 years, with a mean age of 22 years and a median age of 19 years.[4]
Eponym
[edit]The lesion is named after Sophie Spitz, the pathologist who originally described it in 1948.[6]
See also
[edit]- List of cutaneous conditions
- List of genes mutated in pigmented cutaneous lesions
- Melanoma with features of a Spitz nevus
References
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- ^ a b c d LeBoit, PE, Burg G, Weedon D, Sarasin A. (Eds) World Health Organization Classification of Tumours: Pathology and Genetics of Skin Tumours. Lyon: IARCPress. 2006.
- ^ a b James, William D.; Berger, Timothy G.; et al. (2006). Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: clinical Dermatology. Saunders Elsevier. ISBN 0-7216-2921-0.
- ^ Rapini, Ronald P.; Bolognia, Jean L.; Jorizzo, Joseph L. (2007). Dermatology: 2-Volume Set. St. Louis: Mosby. pp. 1728–30. ISBN 978-1-4160-2999-1.
- ^ a b c Crotty, K. Spitz Naevus: Histological features and distinction from malignant melanoma. Australasian Journal of Dermatology. 38 (suppl): S49-S53. 1997.
- ^ Ries LAG, et al., eds. SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975–2000. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute; 2003: Tables XVI-1-9.
- ^ Spitz S. Melanomas of childhood. Am. J. Pathol.1948;24:591-609.