Fabrizi G, Massi G
Department of Dermatology, *Department of Pathology, Catholic University Medical School, Largo F. Vito, 1, 0168 Rome, Italy.
Br J Dermatol. 2000 Jan;142(1):128-32. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2133.2000.03254.x.
Polypoid malignant melanoma is a peculiar morphological variant of melanoma with a distinct exophytic pattern of growth. This form of melanoma is usually very thick and the prognosis is accordingly poor. We present here a previously undescribed form of Spitz naevus which had a similar polypoid exophytic silhouette and marked cytological atypia. Despite these close morphological similarities, polypoid Spitz naevus evolves in a completely benign manner. Morphologically, polypoid Spitz naevus can be distinguished from polypoid melanoma by the absence of mitoses and by the prominent stromal reaction throughout the lesion.
