title: Spitz nevi and other Spitzoid lesions part I. Background and diagnoses.
abstract: Spitz nevi are melanocytic proliferations that are characterized by spindled and/or epithelioid nevomelanocytes. First interpreted as juvenile melanoma, these lesions were later characterized as benign and were observed to affect all age groups. Today, contrasting opinions persist regarding the fundamental benignancy versus malignancy within the spectrum of Spitz tumors. Beyond clinical outcome, this controversy has also been fueled by complex and sometimes convoluted classification schemes based on pathologic characteristics. More recently, immunophenotypic and molecular analyses have begun to clarify the etiologic nature of these tumors. Recent evidence suggests that histopathologic features that suggest more aggressiveness in Spitz tumors relate to mitoses and inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Wellman Center for Photomedicine and Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Su
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sepehr
authors.forename: Hensin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsao
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D018332:Nevus, Epithelioid and Spindle Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*
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