Erosive Nodular Lesion in the Auricle of a Teenager's Ear.

A 14-year-old girl with no past history of interest was seen for an asymptomatic lesion that had arisen on the helix of the auricle of her left ear 2 months earlier. The lesion had appeared during the month of August and had not changed since that time. Examination revealed an 8 mm nodular lesion with welldefined, slightly elevated borders and a central erosion (Fig. 1A). Epidermal hyperplasia, hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, and hypergranulosis were observed on biopsy, associated with nests of nonpigmented epithelioid cells in the epidermis, extending down to the reticular dermis. Fibrillary eosinophilic globules consistent with Kamino bodies were identified in the papillary dermis (Fig. 1B). With a diagnosis of Spitz nevus, the lesion was excised and has not recurred after 2 years of follow-up. Spitz nevus is an acquired benign melanocytic tumor that typically arises before 20 years of age. It presents as an asymptomatic, firm, well-defined solitary papule of variable color. The nevus typically arises on the head and neck, lower limbs, or trunk. The differential diagnosis includes other