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Spitz nevus in Child
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed

Spitz nevus in Child

Contributors: Danna Moustafa, Elena B. Hawryluk MD, PhD, Belinda Tan MD, PhD, William M. Lin MD, Susan Burgin MD
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed

Synopsis

Spitz nevi (also known as spindle and epithelial cell nevi or benign juvenile melanoma) are benign melanocytic nevi of early childhood. These lesions are often red, pink, or, less commonly, dark brown, and appear as well-defined, smooth, firm, flat- or dome-shaped nodules and papules often < 6 mm in diameter.

Spitz nevi most commonly arise during childhood and adolescence; congenital Spitz nevi present at birth are rare. The majority of lesions are solitary, but rarely they can be multiple and widespread (eruptive disseminated) or localized (agminated) in one area.

The importance of these lesions lies in their frequent histopathologic confusion with melanoma. Spitz nevi represent the benign diagnosis within a spectrum, which extends to contain increasingly atypical features in atypical Spitz tumors (ASTs) and Spitz melanomas.

Lesions can develop slowly or appear quite rapidly. Without excision, lesions may remain stable for years, evolve into compound nevi, flatten over time, or involute spontaneously.

Related topic: agminated nevus

Codes

ICD10CM:
D22.9 – Melanocytic nevi, unspecified

SNOMEDCT:
254811006 – Epithelioid and spindle cell nevus

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Last Reviewed:09/08/2019
Last Updated:06/02/2021
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Spitz nevus in Child
A medical illustration showing key findings of Spitz nevus : Arm, Face, Leg, Neck, Smooth papule
Clinical image of Spitz nevus - imageId=919616. Click to open in gallery.  caption: 'A close-up of a crusted, pink and light brown papule.'
A close-up of a crusted, pink and light brown papule.
Copyright © 2024 VisualDx®. All rights reserved.