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Spitz naevus

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

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This is a rare, benign, reddish-brown naevus seen in juveniles. It may occur in people of older age groups too, although it is highly unlikely in people older than 50 years of age (1,2).

Spitz naevus usually presents as a solitary lesion on the lower extremities or the face (3).

Generally, it is a dome shaped non-ulcerated lesion. It may be composed of spindle and epithelioid cells. The naevus may contain both junctional and dermal components, or it may be either entirely junctional or intradermal (2).

Cytological examination of this naevus reveals characteristics consistent with malignant melanoma although the architecture is regular. A constellation of histological features helps differentiate Spitz naevi from melanomas, but this is not always reliable (4).

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The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

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