Clinical and dermoscopic features of atypical Spitz tumors: A multicenter, retrospective, case-control study.
Title | Clinical and dermoscopic features of atypical Spitz tumors: A multicenter, retrospective, case-control study. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2015 |
Authors | Moscarella, E., Lallas A., Kyrgidis A., Ferrara G., Longo C., Scalvenzi M., Staibano S., Carrera C., M Díaz A., Broganelli P., Tomasini C., Cavicchini S., Gianotti R., Puig S., Malvehy J., Zaballos P., Pellacani G., & Argenziano G. |
Journal | J Am Acad Dermatol |
Volume | 73 |
Issue | 5 |
Pagination | 777-84 |
Date Published | 2015 Nov |
ISSN | 1097-6787 |
Keywords | Adolescent, Adult, Case-Control Studies, Dermoscopy, Diagnosis, Differential, Female, Humans, Male, Nevus, Epithelioid and Spindle Cell, Retrospective Studies, Skin Neoplasms, Young Adult |
Abstract | BACKGROUND: Few studies have described the clinical and dermoscopic features of atypical Spitz tumors.OBJECTIVE: We sought to describe the clinical and dermoscopic features of a series of atypical Spitz tumors as compared with those of conventional Spitz nevi.METHODS: This was a multicenter, retrospective, case-control study, analyzing the clinical and dermoscopic characteristics of 55 atypical Spitz tumors and 110 Spitz nevi that were excised and diagnosed histopathologically.RESULTS: The majority of atypical Spitz tumors presented clinically as a plaque or nodule, dermoscopically typified by a multicomponent or nonspecific pattern. A proportion of lesions (16.4%) exhibited the typical nonpigmented Spitzoid pattern of dotted vessels and white lines under dermoscopy. Nodularity, ulceration, linear vessels, polymorphic vessels, white lines, and blue-white veil were associated with atypical Spitz tumors by univariate analysis, but only nodularity and white lines remained significant after multivariate analysis. In contrast, a pigmented typical Spitzoid pattern was a potent predictor of Spitz nevi, associated with 6.5-fold increased probability.LIMITATIONS: Differentiation from Spitzoid melanoma and other nonmelanocytic lesions was not investigated.CONCLUSION: Atypical Spitz tumors are polymorphic melanocytic proliferations with a nodular clinical appearance. Dermoscopically they demonstrate a multicomponent and nonspecific pattern. A typical nonpigmented Spitzoid pattern on dermoscopy (with dotted vessels and white lines) does not exclude atypical Spitz tumors. |
DOI | 10.1016/j.jaad.2015.08.018 |
Alternate Journal | J Am Acad Dermatol |
PubMed ID | 26475536 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC4806681 |
Grant List | R01 CA083115 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States CA83115 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States |