Multiple agminated pigmented Spitz nevi (mimicking acral lentiginous malignant melanoma and dysplastic nevus) in an African-American girl.
BACKGROUND
Reed's nevi are distinguished from Sptiz tumors by their significant melanogenesis and growth pattern. They may be confused with melanoma on clinical and histologic grounds.


METHODS
An unusual case in which multiple agminated Reed's nevi mimicked acral lentiginous malignant melanoma in an African-American girl is presented. A critical review of the literature is presented to assist in the diagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Awareness of this entity and of its possible clinical presentations and judicious application of conventional hematoxylin-eosin microscopic criteria remain the most useful methods to bring the correct diagnosis in most instances. Mutilating or excessive surgery may be avoided for most cases of pigmented spindle and epithelioid cell nevus.
Abramovits
W
W
Valley International Dermatology Associates, McAllen, Texas.
Gonzalez-Serva
A
A
D044383:Black People; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004416:Dysplastic Nevus Syndrome / Q000208:ethnology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005534:Foot Diseases / Q000208:ethnology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000208:ethnology / Q000473:pathology*; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000208:ethnology / Q000473:pathology*; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000208:ethnology / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000473:pathology*; D001741:Black or African American