title: [Spitz nevus vs 'spitzoid' malignant melanoma. A diagnostic dilemma?].
abstract: Data from the literature and histopathological findings in six personal cases are used to illustrate criteria that can be applied in differential diagnosis between a Spitz nevus and a spitzoid variant of malignant melanoma. The diagnostic term 'atypical Spitz tumor' is explained; it is used to describe a morphological "grey zone" in which it is not possible to differentiate with adequate certainty between a Spitz nevus and a spitzoid malignant melanoma.
authors.affiliation: Dermatopathologische Gemeinschaftspraxis, Siemensstrasse 6/1, 88048, Friedrichshafen. ruetten@dermpath.de
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rütten
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology*; D018332:Nevus, Epithelioid and Spindle Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*