Molecular Characterization of Spitz Tumors: An Approach to Improve Disease Diagnosis and Classification

Abstract

Spitz neoplasms are relatively uncommon melanocytic lesions characterized by an epithelioid or spindled cell morphology and present more commonly in younger age. They represent a spectrum from benign to malignant lesions which sometime represent a diagnostic conundrum. Recent advances in the genetic characterization of these lesions allow a better classification with consequent improvement in diagnostic accuracy and patient management. This review aims at summarizing our recent understanding of these lesions at the molecular level.