The distinction of a Spitz nevus from melanoma can be very difficult. Pathologists may disagree on whether a Spitzoid melanocytic proliferation is benign or malignant, or acknowledge uncertainty about the diagnosis. As long as melanoma is suspected or strongly considered, a clinical management plan is often adopted as if the patient had melanoma, which may include sentinel lymph node (SLN) biop...

Drosophila Spitz is a homolog of transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha) and is an activating ligand for the EGF receptor (Egfr). It has been shown that Star is required for Spitz activity. Here we show that Star is quantitatively limiting for Spitz production during eye development. We also show that Star and Spitz proteins colocalize in Spitz sending cells and that this association is no...

Plantar melanoma Superficial spreading melanoma Spitz nevus Dr. Taizo Kato, Department of Dermatology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryomachi, Aobaku, Sendai 98077 (Japan) The acral regions of the limbs are the commonest site for melanoma in the Japanese [1, 2]. This high proportion of acral melanoma may be the result of the relatively low occurrence of melanoma in other parts of...

OBJECTIVE Despite recent advances in our molecular understanding of Spitz-type tumors, the clinical behavior of these lesions remains unclear. We thus set out to define the clinical outcome of classic Spitz nevi, atypical Spitz tumors (ASTs), and spitzoid melanomas. DESIGN From 1987 through 2002, data on all lesions containing the term "Spitz" or "Spitz" [AND] "melanoma" were retrieved from t...

AIMS Spitz naevi are difficult to diagnose, because of significant overlap with melanomas. It has been recently demonstrated that the LSI RREB1(6p25)/LSI MYB(6q23)/LSI CCND1(11q13)/CEP6 fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) assay is a reliable tool with which to distinguish benign naevi and melanomas. Little is known about its diagnostic usefulness in Spitz naevi. METHODS AND RESULTS We i...