title: Fluorescence in situ hybridization for the differential diagnosis between Spitz naevus and spitzoid melanoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The differential diagnosis between Spitz naevus and spitzoid melanoma can be extremely difficult, or even impossible. In recent years, many attempts have been made to find specific histopathological or immunohistochemical markers, although none has proved successful. Because the prognosis and treatment of each are very different, it is important to distinguish between these entities. We evaluated the ability of the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay-designed to detect the copy number of the RREB1 (6p25), MYB (6q23) and CCND1 (11q13) genes and of centromere 6 (Cep 6)-in order to distinguish between Spitz naevus and spitzoid melanoma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We evaluated 12 spitzoid melanomas and six Spitz naevi from our records. The diagnosis of both conditions was based on previously described histopathological criteria. We obtained valuable results for FISH in eight spitzoid melanomas and five Spitz naevi. Chromosomal aberrations were detected in seven of the eight spitzoid melanomas (FISH-positive) and in none of the five Spitz naevi. The FISH-negative spitzoid melanoma was the least typical in its group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FISH was able to distinguish between Spitz naevus and spitzoid melanoma, with a sensitivity of 87.5% and a specificity of 100%. Our findings suggest that FISH could prove a useful tool in the differential diagnosis between these entities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Instituto Valenciano de Oncología, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Celia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Requena
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rubio
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Traves
authors.forename: Onofre
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sanmartín
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nagore
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Llombart
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fernández-Serra
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Botella
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guillén
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D019938:Cyclin D1 / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D018628:Gene Dosage; D020570:Genes, myb; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D018332:Nevus, Epithelioid and Spindle Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C530104:CCND1 protein, human; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C101743:RREB1 protein, human; D014157:Transcription Factors; D019938:Cyclin D1