Background: Nevi with cytologic characteristics of Spitz nevus and architectural features of Clark's/dysplastic nevus are not well recognized in the literature.
Methods: Twenty-seven nevi with characteristics of Spitz nevus and Clark's/dysplastic nevus are reviewed.
Results: The patients' mean age was 33 years, and 17/27(63%) patients were female. Lesions were most frequent on the trunk and lower extremities. Histopathologically, these nevi were composed of large, monomorphous spindled and/or epithelioid melanocytes. Spindle cells were often oriented parallel to the epidermis, with fused rete and lamellar fibroplasias. Lateral extension of the junctional component was a feature of compound lesions. An average of 10 years of clinical follow up in 12 patients revealed no recurrence or metastasis.
Conclusions: Recognition of this type of nevus is important to avoid confusion with malignant melanoma.
2009 John Wiley & Sons A/S.