Histopathological evaluation of halo phenomenon in Spitz nevus.

We saw a patient with a Spitz nevus surrounded by a halo of depigmentation. Although the halo phenomenon is often seen in pigmented melanocytic nevus, an association of this phenomenon with Spitz nevus seems to be rare. Moreover, histopathological findings showed focal lymphoid infiltration in the epidermis of the depigmented halo and marked infiltration in dermal epithelioid nevus cell nests. Thus, it is suggested that identical mechanisms are involved in the destruction of epidermal melanocytes and dermal nevus cells in halo Spitz nevus.