INTRODUCTION: The term spitzoid melanoma (SM) is reserved for a rare group of tumors with striking resemblance to Spitz nevus, often developing in children diagnosed in retrospect after the development of metastases. OBJECTIVES: To determine the biological significance of SM and to analyze the effectiveness of adjuvant diagnostic techniques. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective, observational study of 38 cases of SM in patients younger than 18 years. Histological type, Clark level and Breslow thickness, radial and vertical growth phase, mitotic count/mm(2), ulceration, regression, vascular and perineural invasion, satellitosis, cytology and associated nevi were reviewed. An immunohistochemical analysis with HMB45 and Ki67 was performed in 10 cases. These features were correlated to patient's stage and outcome. RESULTS: Analysis of histological and immunohistochemical features should allow accurate diagnosis in most cases. Given the low mortality rate, no conclusions about the prognostic significance of histological parameters of the primary tumor could be established. CONCLUSION: We report the largest series of SM from a unique center. Although these patients may have a better prognosis than adults, some patients with SM develop metastasis and die, particularly after age 11 years. Therefore, we recommend using the same treatments as in adults. (c) 2008 The Authors. Journal Compilation.
INTRODUCTION: The term spitzoid melanoma (SM) is reserved for a rare group of tumors with striking resemblance to Spitz nevus, often developing in children diagnosed in retrospect after the development of metastases. OBJECTIVES: To determine the biological significance of SM and to analyze the effectiveness of adjuvant diagnostic techniques. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective, observational study of 38 cases of SM in patients younger than 18 years. Histological type, Clark level and Breslow thickness, radial and vertical growth phase, mitotic count/mm(2), ulceration, regression, vascular and perineural invasion, satellitosis, cytology and associated nevi were reviewed. An immunohistochemical analysis with HMB45 and Ki67 was performed in 10 cases. These features were correlated to patient's stage and outcome. RESULTS: Analysis of histological and immunohistochemical features should allow accurate diagnosis in most cases. Given the low mortality rate, no conclusions about the prognostic significance of histological parameters of the primary tumor could be established. CONCLUSION: We report the largest series of SM from a unique center. Although these patients may have a better prognosis than adults, some patients with SM develop metastasis and die, particularly after age 11 years. Therefore, we recommend using the same treatments as in adults. (c) 2008 The Authors. Journal Compilation.
Authors: Lalit Parida; Griffin T Morrisson; Amer Shammas; A K M Moinul Hossain; M Beth McCarville; J Ted Gerstle; Martin Charron; Bhaskar N Rao; Barry L Shulkin Journal: Pediatr Surg Int Date: 2012-04-22 Impact factor: 1.827
Authors: Sophia A Ma; Conor P O'Day; Tzvete Dentchev; Junko Takeshita; Todd W Ridky; John T Seykora; Emily Y Chu Journal: J Cutan Pathol Date: 2019-02-14 Impact factor: 1.587
Authors: Charles Lu; Jinghui Zhang; Panduka Nagahawatte; John Easton; Seungjae Lee; Zhifa Liu; Li Ding; Matthew A Wyczalkowski; Marcus Valentine; Fariba Navid; Heather Mulder; Ruth G Tatevossian; James Dalton; James Davenport; Zhirong Yin; Michael Edmonson; Michael Rusch; Gang Wu; Yongjin Li; Matthew Parker; Erin Hedlund; Sheila Shurtleff; Susana Raimondi; Vadodaria Bhavin; Yergeau Donald; Elaine R Mardis; Richard K Wilson; William E Evans; David W Ellison; Stanley Pounds; Michael Dyer; James R Downing; Alberto Pappo; Armita Bahrami Journal: J Invest Dermatol Date: 2014-09-30 Impact factor: 8.551
Authors: Gang Wu; Raymond L Barnhill; Seungjae Lee; Yongjin Li; Ying Shao; John Easton; James Dalton; Jinghui Zhang; Alberto Pappo; Armita Bahrami Journal: Mod Pathol Date: 2016-02-19 Impact factor: 7.842