Skip to main content
  • 137 Accesses

Abstract

The pathologist Sophie Spitz described this lesion in 1948 as juvenile melanoma; in her honor, it is named Spitz nevus.

A Spitz nevus (also known as “epithelioid and spindle-cell nevus,” “benign juvenile melanoma,” and “Spitz’s juvenile melanoma”) is a benign melanocytic nevus, with specific clinical and pathological treats. The latter terms are generally no longer used as they are misleading: Spitz nevus is a benign lesion and not a melanoma, and it does not only occur in children but also in adults.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 219.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 279.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Crotty K. Spitz naevus: histological features and distinction from malignant melanoma. Australas J Dermatol. 1997;38(Suppl):S49–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Díaz A, Valera A, Carrera C, Hakim S, Aguilera P, García A, Palou J, Puig S, Malvehy J, Alos L. Pigmented spindle cell nevus: clues for differentiating it from spindle cell malignant melanoma. A comprehensive survey including clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical, and FISH studies. Am J Surg Pathol. 2011;35(11):1733–42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferrara G, Argenziano G. Spitz and reed nevi. In: Marghoob AA, Malvehy J, Braun RP, editors. Atlas of dermoscopy. London: Informa Healthcare; 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferrara G, Argenziano G, Soyer HP, Chimenti S, Di Blasi A, Pellacani G, et al. The spectrum of Spitz nevi: a clinicopathologic study of 83 cases. Arch Dermatol. 2005;141:1381–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fullen DR, Poynter JN, Lowe L, Su LD, Elder JT, Nair RP, Johnson TM, Gruber SB. BRAF and NRAS mutations in spitzoid melanocytic lesions. Mod Pathol. 2006;19(10):1324–32.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Horst BA, Fang Y, Silvers DN, Busam KJ. Chromosomal aberrations by 4-color fluorescence in situ hybridization not detected in Spitz nevi of older individuals. Arch Dermatol. 2012;148(10):1152–6. doi:10.1001/archdermatol.2012.2267.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Metzger AT, Kane AA, Bayliss SJ. Differences in treatment of Spitz nevi and atypical Spitz tumors in pediatric patients among dermatologists and plastic surgeons. JAMA Dermatol. 2013;149(11):1348–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pellacani G, Longo C, Ferrara G, Cesinaro AM, Bassoli S, Guitera P, Seidenari S. Spitz nevi: in vivo confocal microscopic features, dermatoscopic aspects, histopathologic correlates, and diagnostic significance. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2009;60(2):236–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pizzichetta MA, Argenziano G, Grandi G, de Giacomi C, Trevisan G, Soyer HP. Morphologic changes of a pigmented Spitz nevus assessed by dermoscopy. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2002;47:137–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Requena C, Requena L, Kutzner H, Sánchez Yus E. Spitz nevus: a clinicopathological study of 349 cases. Am J Dermatopathol. 2009;31(2):107–16. 2009;31:107–116.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ries LAG, et al., editors. SEER cancer statistics review, 1975–2000. Bethesda: National Cancer Institute; 2003. Tables XVI-1-9.

    Google Scholar 

  • van Dijk MC, Bernsen MR, Ruiter DJ. Analysis of mutations in B-RAF, N-RAS, and H-RAS genes in the differential diagnosis of Spitz nevus and spitzoid melanoma. Am J Surg Pathol. 2005;29(9):1145–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Further Reading

  • Argenziano G, Scalvenzi M, Staibano S, Brunetti B, Piccolo D, Delfino M, et al. Dermatoscopic pitfalls in differentiating pigmented Spitz naevi from cutaneous melanomas. Br J Dermatol. 1999;141:788–93.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Argenziano G, Soyer HP, Ferrara G, Piccolo D, Hofmann-Wellenhof R, Peris K, et al. Superficial black network: an additional dermoscopic clue for the diagnosis of pigmented spindle and/or epithelioid cell nevus. Dermatology. 2001;203:333–5.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Argenziano G, Zalaudek I, Ferrara G, Lorenzoni A, Soyer HP. Involution: the natural evolution of pigmented Spitz and Reed nevi? Arch Dermatol. 2007;143:549–51.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Argenziano G, Agozzino M, Bonifazi E, Broganelli P, Brunetti B, Ferrara G, et al. Natural evolution of Spitz nevi. Dermatology. 2011;222:256–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barnhill RL. The Spitzoid lesion: rethinking Spitz tumors, atypical variants, ‘Spitzoid melanoma’ and risk assessment. Mod Pathol. 2006;19 Suppl 2:S21–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diaz-Cascajo C, Borghi S, Weyers W. Angiomatoid Spitz nevus: a distinct variant of desmoplastic Spitz nevus with prominent vasculature. Am J Dermatopathol. 2000;22(2):135–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ferrara G, Gianotti R, Cavicchini S, Salviato T, Zalaudek I, Argenziano G. Spitz nevus, Spitz tumor, and spitzoid melanoma: a comprehensive clinicopathologic overview. Dermatol Clin. 2013;31(4):589–98.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hantschke M, Bastian BC, LeBoit PE. Consumption of the epidermis: a diagnostic criterion for the differential diagnosis of melanoma and Spitz nevus. Am J Surg Pathol. 2004;28(12):1621–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harvell JD, Bastian BC, LeBoit PE. Persistent (recurrent) Spitz nevi: a histopathologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular pathologic study of 22 cases. Am J Surg Pathol. 2002;26(5):654–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • James WD, Berger TG, et al. Andrews’ diseases of the skin: clinical dermatology. Philadelphia: Elsevier Saunders; 2006. ISBN 0-7216-2921-0.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kamino H. Spitzoid melanoma. Clin Dermatol. 2009;27(6):545–55. doi:10.1016/j.clindermatol.2008.09.013.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kapur P, Selim MA, Roy LC, Yegappan M, Weinberg AG, Hoang MP. Spitz nevi and atypical Spitz nevi/tumors: a histologic and immunohistochemical analysis. Mod Pathol. 2005;18(2):197–204.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • LeBoit PE, Burg G, Weedon D, Sarasin A, editors. World Health Organization classification of tumours: pathology and genetics of skin tumours. Lyon: IARCPress; 2006.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lohmann CM, Coit DG, Brady MS, Berwick M, Busam KJ. Sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with diagnostically controversial spitzoid melanocytic tumors. Am J Surg Pathol. 2002;26(1):47–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pizzichetta MA, Talamini R, Marghoob AA, Soyer HP, Argenziano G, Bono R, Corradin MT, et al. Negative pigment network: an additional dermoscopic feature for the diagnosis of melanoma. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2013;68:552–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rapini RP, Bolognia JL, Jorizzo JL. Dermatology: 2-volume set. St. Louis: Mosby; 2007. p. 1728–30. ISBN 1-4160-2999-0.

    Google Scholar 

  • Segura S, Puig S, Carrera C, Palou J, Malvehy J. Development of a two-step method for the diagnosis of melanoma by reflectance confocal microscopy. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2009;61(2):216–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spitz S. Melanomas of childhood. Am J Pathol. 1948;24:591–609.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Stefanaki C, Stefanaki K, Antoniou C, Argyrakos T, Patereli A, Stratigos A, Katsambas A. Cell cycle and apoptosis regulators in Spitz nevi: comparison with melanomas and common nevi. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2007;56(5):815–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steiner A, Pehamberger H, Binder M, Wolff K. Pigmented Spitz nevi: improvement of the diagnostic accuracy by epiluminescence microscopy. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1992;27:697–701.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Troxel DB. Medicolegal aspects of error in pathology. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2006;130(5):617–9.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wititsuwannakul J, Mason AR, Klump VR, Lazova R. Neuropilin-2 as a useful marker in the differentiation between Spitzoid malignant melanoma and Spitz nevus. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2013;68(1):129–37.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zalaudek I, Kittler H, Hofmann-Wellenhof R, Kreusch J, Longo C, Malvehy J, et al. “White” network in Spitz nevi and early melanomas lacking significant pigmentation. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2013;69:56–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Susana Puig .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Puig, S., Zaballos, P., Carrera, C., Malvehy, J. (2015). Spitz Nevi. In: Katsambas, A.D., Lotti, T.M., Dessinioti, C., D’Erme, A.M. (eds) European Handbook of Dermatological Treatments. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-45139-7_92

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-45139-7_92

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-662-45138-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-45139-7

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics