Spitz nevus.
BACKGROUND
The Spitz nevus is a rare form of benign nevus, which may be confused with malignant melanoma.


METHODS
We reviewed the clinical and histologic features of 29 cases of Spitz nevus, of which 20 were dealt with by our department of dermatology at the Hull Royal Infirmary between 1969 and 1990. The other nine cases were from the records of our pathology department dated between 1979 and 1991, of which seven of the lesions were excised by the surgeons and two by the general practitioners.


RESULTS
In all the cases, the final diagnosis was established histologically. In three cases, there were difficulties histologically in excluding the diagnosis of malignant melanoma. All the lesions were solitary, and none of the lesions recurred following excision despite the possibility of incomplete excision in some cases.


CONCLUSIONS
We found the size of the lesion and the age of the patient important factors to consider in the diagnosis of Spitz nevus. The small number of cases we encountered over a period of 22 years in a department that serves a population of around 500,000 emphasises the rarity of the condition.
Department of Dermatology, Hull Royal Infirmary, United Kingdom.
C B
CB
Ko
S
S
Walton
E H
EH
Wyatt
H P
HP
Bury
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology