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Background: Spitzoid malignant melanoma (SMM) shares many histopathologic features with Spitz nevus (SN). The distinction between SMM and SN remains one of the most difficult diagnostic problems in dermatopathology. Neuropilin-2 (NRP2) is a cytoplasmic/cell surface protein that is a mediator of melanoma-endothelial cell interaction.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate NRP2 expression in SMM and SN and to determine whether it can reliably differentiate between the 2 groups.

Methods: We studied the expression of NRP2 in 19 cases of SMM and 19 cases of SN from Yale Spitzoid Neoplasm Repository, New Haven, Conn.

Results: All 19 cases of SMM (100%) expressed NRP2. Most SMM showed moderate- and high-intensity staining in the majority of the melanoma cells. Most of the SN (14/19, 74%) were negative for the marker. NRP2 labeled only 5 of 19 SN (26%) and all of them demonstrated mild staining intensity. NRP2(+) staining was statistically significant in differentiating SMM from SN (P < .05).

Limitations: Small study size is a limitation.

Conclusions: NRP2 expression in SMM and SN may be a useful adjunct marker, in addition to histopathologic evaluation, in the differentiation between these 2 entities.

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2012.07.009DOI Listing

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