title: Plexiform spitz nevus.
abstract: In 1999, Spatz et al. reported the first 2 cases of a plexiform variant Spitz nevus. We describe another case of this variant on the upper thigh of a 10-year-old boy and discuss the differential diagnosis. Histologically, it comprised nodules of epithelioid cells with a plexiform arrangement distributed throughout the superficial and deep dermis. The cells had moderate eosinophilic cytoplasm with vesicular nuclei and prominent nucleoli. Intranuclear inclusions were present focally. The tumor nodules were embedded in a myxoid stroma with intratumoral and peritumoral inflammatory cells including both lymphocytes and eosinophils. There were occasional melanin-containing spindle-shaped cells. An intraepidermal component could not be assessed, since the lesion was ulcerated. The differential diagnosis includes both melanocytic and nonmelanocytic lesions exhibiting a plexiform pattern of growth as well as myxoid lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of Natal, Private Bag 7, Congella 4013, Durban, South Africa.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Essa
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chetty
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology; D018318:Neurofibroma, Plexiform / Q000378:metabolism; D018332:Nevus, Epithelioid and Spindle Cell / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D013848:Thigh / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D009418:S100 Proteins