Three weeks ago I had a mole removed after an urgent referral from the dermatologist. I got the results in person yesterday by the Dermatologist Consultant who said my mole is an ‘atypical spitz nevus’. I’m aware of what a Spitz Nevus is, a type of benign mole, so I was immediately relieved and was about to get up and go home! He went on to say it’s not the same as a spitz nevus as it’s atypical, and it’s hard for him to explain what it is but essentially he can’t say it’s non-cancerous and he can’t say it’s cancerous (?!). He then said he has referred me to be treated under Christie’s Cancer Hospital and they will review my mole again and I will see a plastic surgeon there who will do a wide local excision and have an MDT meeting to discuss my mole. I didn’t have my original excision at Christie’s, I had it at a normal local hospital. I’ve tried to research what an atypical spitz nevus is and there isn’t much at all about them online. The only things really are scientific research papers and from what I can figure out from them (I’m not a scientist!) is that they don’t really know exactly what they are (they have normal spitz nevus features and malignant melanoma features), it’s very rare, they can spread to lymph nodes (I don’t know what exactly spreads to the lymph nodes if they are not melanoma?!), experts argue that they are melanoma and some experts argue they’re not, they don’t really know exactly what causes it, they look so similar to melanoma under a microscope that some pathologists would diagnose it as melanoma, and basically just that there’s a lot of controversy and different opinions around them. I have also been asked to get a vitamin D test which I was unsure why on, when I google it, it seems that vitamin D tests are only really recommended when the mole biopsy comes back as melanoma.
Because of this I can’t gage the seriousness of it and it’s hard for me to explain it to other people and work. I thought getting my results would give me some relief as I would have a straight answer regardless of what it was. I feel very conflicted and more confused! Has anyone had an atypical spitz nevus before by any chance, if not, is there any thoughts on this?
Hi Tmsx and a very warm welcome to the group which I hope you'll find is both an informative and supportive place to be.
I’m Anne and I was diagnosed with an amelanotic melanoma in November 2016.
It must be very difficult for you not knowing how serious having an atypical spitz nevus diagnosis is. Do you have a SCNS (skin cancer nurse specialist), sometimes referred to as a keyworker or Macmillan nurse, as you could chat through your diagnosis with them?
I've had a look through the group and 'tagging' Miranda2 into my reply to you as she posted about having an atypical spitz nevus a few years ago. Hopefully she'll pop in and share her experiences with you.
It would be great if you could put something about your diagnosis and proposed treatment into your profile as it really helps others when replying to you and also when looking for someone on a similar pathway. It also means that you don't have to keep repeating yourself. To do this click on your username and then select 'Profile'. You can amend it at any time and if you're not sure what to write you can take a look at mine by clicking on my username.
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
