What is a Spitz nevus?
Spitz nevus (Epithelioid and Spindle-Cell Nevus) is an uncommon, benign, melanocytic nevus that is usually acquired and has histologic features that overlap with those of melanoma.
Is a Spitz nevus bad?
Spitz nevi are uncommon melanocytic neoplasms of epithelioid or spindled cells that are found in children [1]. Once treated as a “juvenile melanoma” with malignant potential, these tumors possess a spectrum of clinical and histopathologic presentation that has argued for benignancy [2].
Is a Spitz nevus dysplastic?
Dysplastic nevi (DN) (atypical moles) and Spitz nevi are irregular-appearing nevi with clinical and histologic definitions that are controversial and still evolving. Both DN and Spitz nevi have clinical, dermoscopic, and histologic features that overlap with melanoma.
What is Spitz nevus with atypical cells?
Atypical Spitz nevi are described as conventional Spitz nevi with 1 or more atypical features with indeterminate biological potential. Features of atypical Spitz include larger size (>6 mm), irregular borders, irregular topography, or ulceration.
Should a Spitz nevus be removed?
Most of the time, they are watched over time for changes. Measuring the mole’s size and taking photographs of it will help the doctor monitor for changes in size, color, and shape. Spitz nevi can be removed surgically. Surgical removal is recommended for Spitz nevi with concerning features or changes.
Is Spitz nevus genetic?
Genetic aberrations can be found in the entire biological spectrum of spitzoid neoplasms (i.e. Spitz nevi, atypical Spitz tumors and spitzoid melanoma) and are, therefore, probably not useful for distinguishing benign from malignant tumors; however, genetic aberrations represent important targets for therapeutic …
Does Spitz nevus need to be removed?
Classic Spitz nevi usually grow for a few months and then gradually fade away over the course of a few years. They may only require medical monitoring. Spitz nevi in adults and types that may be linked to melanoma, such as pigmented and atypical Spitz tumors, are usually surgically removed from the skin.
Can a Spitz nevus turn into melanoma?
Very few atypical Spitz tumors progress to melanoma and lead to serious health risks, especially when diagnosed and treated early. A suspicious Spitz nevus is usually removed by a doctor while it is still benign. If an atypical Spitz tumor becomes cancerous, it is called a Spitzoid melanoma.
Can Spitz nevus disappear?
Should you remove a Spitz nevus?
At the pigmented-lesion clinic of the New York University Skin and Cancer Unit, because of this concern about melanoma, it is usually recommended that Spitz nevi be completely excised.
Should Spitz nevus be removed?
Spitz nevi (the plural of nevus) are not harmful, but they can be difficult to differentiate from melanoma , even for experts. An excisional biopsy is thus recommended to confirm the diagnosis. Spitz nevi may be removed surgically, although they can regress on their own.
Can Spitz nevus become melanoma?
A Spitz nevus can look very much a like a serious kind of skin cancer called melanoma. But a Spitz nevus doesn’t act like a melanoma. It doesn’t cause the damage to the body that a melanoma does. Most of the time there is only one lesion and it is the common type.
What is Spitzoid melanoma?
Spitzoid melanoma is a type of skin cancer. It begins when the melanocytes in the skin grow out of control and form tumors.