Reed Nevus

Abstract

We believe that pigmented spindle cell nevus is a distinctive variant of Spitz nevus, fi rst described by Richard Reed. The entity is defi ned by the cytological features: its cells are smaller than those classically seen in Spitz nevus, have smaller nuclei and less cytoplasm, are uniformly spindled, and consistently produce large amounts of melanin. This results not so much in deeply pigmented melanocytes but in a deeply pigmented epidermis and (via melanophages) papillary dermis. Along with the difference in cytology, there are some subtle architectural differences, too.