Abstract

Background: Spitz nevus was a diverse category to melanocytic nevi, which has generated a lot of attention due to their resemblance to melanoma (MM). Objective: Our study was interested largely to assess clinical outcomes of patients who suffer of Spitz nevus and determine risk factors affected on patients. Patients and methods: 60 people with Spitz nevus underwent a cross-sectional study that diagnosed all patients using a dermoscopy technique, which was specialized in determining the location and histological subtypes of Spitz nevus and its extent, as well as identifying risk factors affecting the quality of life of patients with Spitz nevus. Participants’ data was collected from different hospitals in Iraq, which was conduct during the periods of 9 July 2022 to 25 August 2023. Results: The study identified 30 cases of spitz nevus in adults and children, with 60% of cases occurring in males and 40% in females. The most prevalent comorbidities were hypertension, diabetes, and anaemia. The most common clinical manifestations included a width greater than 1 cm, unclear margins, irregular colouration, a family history, exposure to sunlight, and hormonal changes. Spitz nevus was the most prevalent lesion type, with 12 cases in children and 11 in adults. The severity scores of spitz nevus were classified as follows: benign (12 patients), atypical (18 patients), and malignant (30 cases). Furthermore, the items that had the greatest negative impact on the quality of life of patients were Functioning (48.54 ± 7.94) and social interactions (50.22 ± 5.82) in children. In contrast, functioning (58.95 ± 5.89) and social interactions (57.90 ± 8.70) had the greatest positive impact in adults. Conclusion: Spitz nevus, a benign skin lesion affecting young people and children, can mimic severe melanoma but has negative impacts on participants and lowers their quality of life