Abstract
Background: SPARK nevus represents a little-known and characterized entity, with few case series available in the literature. Methods and results: we present a case series of 12 patients (6 F and 6 M) between January 2005 and December 2020 and conduct a review of the current literature. Ten articles were selected on the basis of the adopted inclusion criteria and the PRISMA guidelines. Conclusions: The definition of histopathological and dermoscopic criteria are important to allow for an agreement to be reached among dermopathologists, and for the development of a consensus on higher case studies. To our knowledge, there are not many case series in the literature, and ours is part of the attempt to increase the knowledge of an entity that remains little-known and characterized.
Highlights
The Spitz nevus is a benign melanocytic neoplasm that is characterized by two peculiar cytological features: its cells are large, and they are ovalor spindle in shape [1,2]
Clark nevus is a dysplastic nevus, defined by different criteria, such as the irregularity of melanocytes of junction, the presence of nests that connect the bases of rete ridges, dimension >5 mm, and the eventual presence of scattered melanocytes with large nuclei in the superficial layers of the epidermis [3]
The case series consisted of 6 females (50%) and 6 males (50%) aged between 12 and years, with more frequent localization in the lower extremities (6 cases, 50%), followed by the back (3 cases, 25%), upper extremities (2 cases, 16.6%) and one head/neck case (8.4%)
Summary
The Spitz nevus is a benign melanocytic neoplasm that is characterized by two peculiar cytological features: its cells are large, and they are oval (so-called ‘epithelioid’)or spindle in shape [1,2]. The union of a nevus with cytological features of Spitz nevus with architectural features of Clark’s dysplastic nevus is currently defined as the SPARK nevus. This entity was primarily defined “verbally” by B. In this paper we present a case series of lesions found in our routine practice between January 2005 and December 2020. SPARK nevus represents a little-known and characterized entity, with few case series available in the literature. Methods and results: we present a case series of 12 patients (6 F and 6 M) between January 2005 and December 2020 and conduct a review of the current literature.
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