title: Natural evolution of Spitz nevi.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The natural evolution of melanocytic nevi is a complex, multifactorial process that can be studied by monitoring nevi on a long-term basis.
  
  
  METHODS
  To assess the evolution pathway of Spitz nevi, lesions with clinical and dermoscopic features suggestive of Spitz nevi were monitored and baseline and follow-up images compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-four patients (mean age 10.4 years) with lesions suggestive of Spitz nevi were included. Lesions were monitored for a mean follow-up period of 25 months. Upon side-by-side evaluation of baseline and follow-up images, 51 (79.7%) lesions showed an involution pattern and 13 (20.3%) lesions showed a growing or stable pattern. No significant differences were found between growing and involving lesions in terms of patient age and sex and the location and palpability of lesions. The great majority of growing lesions were pigmented or partially pigmented (92.3%), whereas 47.1% of lesions in involution were amelanotic (p = 0.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this series of lesions clinically and dermoscopically diagnosed as Spitz nevi, spontaneous involution seems to be the most common biologic behavior.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Unit, 1st Medical Department, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, Reggio Emilia, Italy. g.argenziano@gmail.com
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Argenziano
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Agozzino
authors.forename: Ernesto
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bonifazi
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Broganelli
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brunetti
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferrara
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fulgione
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garrone
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zalaudek
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D046169:Dermoscopy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018332:Nevus, Epithelioid and Spindle Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult