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December iotaderma (#215)
IOTADERMA #216 Many animals are found in dermatology’s vast and wonderful descriptive lexicon: we encounter chicken and geese, lions and cheetahs, elephants and baboons (along with the occasional zebra!), and salmon and lobsters, to name just a few. What dermatologic syndrome has the pictured dog breed’s name attached to it (Fig 1), and what is its pathophysiology? Robert I. Rudolph, MD, FACP
Fig 1. The dog breed after which the dermatologic syndrome in question was named. Answer will appear in the JAAD Online section of the February issue of the Journal.
DECEMBER IOTADERMA (#215) Dermatologists are familiar with the entity termed ‘‘Clark nevus’’ (named, of course, to honor Dr Wallace Clark, of fond memory). What, however, is a ‘‘Spark nevus’’? Answer: A ‘‘Spark nevus’’ is a type of melanocytic nevus that pathologically exhibits a picture commingling the architectural and cytologic patterns of both a Spitz nevus and a Clark (dysplastic) nevus (ie, [Sophie] Spitz 1 [Wally] Clark ¼ Spark). Careful examination can permit differentiation from a true malignant melanoma (which this sort of lesion can mimic quite closely microscopically). Treatment by complete excision was curative in a series of patients, and the clinical course remained benign for all of them. BIBLIOGRAPHY Ko CJ, McNiff JM, Glusac EJ. Melanocytic nevi with features of Spitz nevi and Clark’s/ dysplastic nevi (‘‘Spark’s’’ nevi). J Cutan Pathol 2009;36:1063-8. Toussaint S, Kamino H. Dysplastic changes in different types of melanocytic nevi. A unifying concept. J Cutan Pathol 1999;26:84-90.
Robert I. Rudolph, MD, FACP
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Fig 1. The dog breed after which the dermatologic syndrome in question was named. Answer will appear in the JAAD Online section of the February issue of the Journal.
DECEMBER IOTADERMA (#215) Dermatologists are familiar with the entity termed ‘‘Clark nevus’’ (named, of course, to honor Dr Wallace Clark, of fond memory). What, however, is a ‘‘Spark nevus’’? Answer: A ‘‘Spark nevus’’ is a type of melanocytic nevus that pathologically exhibits a picture commingling the architectural and cytologic patterns of both a Spitz nevus and a Clark (dysplastic) nevus (ie, [Sophie] Spitz 1 [Wally] Clark ¼ Spark). Careful examination can permit differentiation from a true malignant melanoma (which this sort of lesion can mimic quite closely microscopically). Treatment by complete excision was curative in a series of patients, and the clinical course remained benign for all of them. BIBLIOGRAPHY Ko CJ, McNiff JM, Glusac EJ. Melanocytic nevi with features of Spitz nevi and Clark’s/ dysplastic nevi (‘‘Spark’s’’ nevi). J Cutan Pathol 2009;36:1063-8. Toussaint S, Kamino H. Dysplastic changes in different types of melanocytic nevi. A unifying concept. J Cutan Pathol 1999;26:84-90.
Robert I. Rudolph, MD, FACP
e27