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Spitzoid melanoma in childhood
European Journal of Dermatology. Volume 16, Number 3, 276-80, May-June 2006, Clinical report
Free Article
Author(s) : Husamettin Top, A Cemal Aygit, Sedat Bas, Omer Yalcin
Summary : Spitzoid melanoma is a rare variant of melanoma. It has morphological features similar to those of Spitz’s nevus. In this study, the histologic and immunohistochemical features of both Spitzoid melanoma and Spitz’s nevus are emphasized. We report two cases of melanoma with spitzoid features occurring in the extremities of 9 and 8-year-old girls. Histologically both lesions had typical features of Spitzoid melanoma. We conclude that the differential diagnosis of Spitzoid melanoma and Spitz’s nevus is at times problematic in childhood, in that distant metastasis may be the only diagnostic criteria for some cases to be distinguished from Spitz’s nevus if strict criteria are followed. Spitzoid melanoma must be treated as other types of melanoma.
Keywords : spitzoid, melanoma, Spitz’s nevus, childhood

Spitzoid melanoma in childhood