Spitz nevi in the classic histopathological pattern - lamb in wolf`s clothing

Spitz nevus is a benign melanocytic lesion and also one of the main differentialdiagnosis of melanoma. A descriptive and retrospective study of surgical specimensfrom patients with a diagnosis of Spitz nevus was conducted at two institutions inNiterói - RJ. 32 cases were analyzed. The most frequent histological subtype wascompound (60 %), with a predominance of epithelioid cells (17 cases - 53%). Pagetoidspread was observed in 21 cases (68%). Maturation of melanocytes was present in 13cases (81%). Kamino bodies were found in eight cases (25%). Atypical melanocytes werepresent in 18 cases (56%). Mitoses were present in 11 cases (34%). Detailed knowledgeof the classical form of Spitz nevi is essential for the differential diagnosis withmelanoma. However, no single criterium is definitive in the differential diagnosisbetween Spitz nevus and melanoma.