title: A case of spitzoid melanoma.
abstract: Spitzoid melanoma is a subtype of melanoma that, clinically and histologically, resembles a Spitz nevus. Clinically, spitzoid melanomas usually evolve from amelanotic nodular lesions, growing to 1 cm or more in diameter. They often remain clinically undiagnosed because of their wide variety of clinical appearances and a lack of pigmentation. Distinguishing a Spitz nevus from a spitzoid melanoma can be extremely difficult. Features that favor the diagnosis of a spitzoid melanoma are asymmetrical shape, diameter greater than 1 cm, a lesion with a deep invasive component, and a high degree of cytologic atypia. There have been only rare reports in the literature of the presence of giant cells in malignant melanoma, and the presence of these cells may result in its misdiagnosis as a histiocytic tumor. We present a case of spitzoid melanoma on the right ankle of a 22-year-old-woman.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Heung Yeol
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Byul
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Ju
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Kwang Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Kwang Joong
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Giant cells; Spitzoid melanoma
references.citation: J Am Acad Dermatol. 1996 Dec;35(6):962-8
references.pmid: 8959956
references.citation: Hum Pathol. 1983 Dec;14(12):1072-80
references.pmid: 6357991
references.citation: Clin Dermatol. 2009 Nov-Dec;27(6):545-55
references.pmid: 19880042
references.citation: Am J Dermatopathol. 2012 Jul;34(5):478-86
references.pmid: 22257900
references.citation: Am J Dermatopathol. 2005 Jun;27(3):208-10
references.pmid: 15900123
references.citation: Clin Dermatol. 2009 Nov-Dec;27(6):564-87
references.pmid: 19880044