Clinical and histopathological features of pagetoid Spitz nevi of the thigh.

Publication/Presentation Date

12-1-2020

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Pagetoid Spitz nevus is a rare subtype of Spitz nevus usually found on the lower extremities, particularly on the thigh of women. As a rare and under-recognized entity that can be misdiagnosed as melanoma, further characterization of clinical and histopathological features is needed to improve its recognition.

METHODS: A retrospective analysis of all melanocytic neoplasms from the thigh diagnosed over a 3-year period.

RESULTS: Fifty-five (15.4%) of the 357 melanocytic neoplasms on the thigh were Spitz nevi, the majority of them occurring in women (87.3%). Of the 55 Spitz nevi, 33 (60.0%) were pagetoid Spitz nevi, 14 (25.5%) were Reed nevi, and eight (14.5%) were conventional Spitz nevi. The mean age of patients with pagetoid Spitz nevi was 47.2, the majority being women (84.9%). Pagetoid Spitz nevi were small, with a mean histopathologic diameter of 4 mm, and often junctional (63.6%). Compared to Clark nevi of the thigh, pagetoid Spitz nevi comprised significantly more solitary melanocytes with a greater degree of scatter.

CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that Spitz nevi and, in particular, pagetoid Spitz nevi constitute a significant percentage of nevi on the thigh. Previously reported benign clinical and histopathological features of pagetoid Spitz nevi are confirmed in this study.

Volume

47

Issue

12

First Page

1143

Last Page

1149

ISSN

1600-0560

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

PubMedID

32829516

Department(s)

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Document Type

Article

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