Spitz tumors / genetic testing for melanoma?

I had the decision-dx melanoma test which insurance did not cover. I felt that the test was a better guide for staging than traditional staging methods. The downside at the time and maybe still was the lack of a big study I think there were 400 or so cases tested at the time.

I had the decision-dx melanoma test which insurance did not cover. I felt that the test was a better guide for staging than traditional staging methods. The downside at the time and maybe still was the lack of a big study I think there were 400 or so cases tested at the time.

I had the decision-dx melanoma test which insurance did not cover. I felt that the test was a better guide for staging than traditional staging methods. The downside at the time and maybe still was the lack of a big study I think there were 400 or so cases tested at the time.

The reason Spitz nevi are termed juvenile melanoma is not because they are really related to melanoma…. but they LOOK like melanoma under the microscope.  Spitz nevi are totally benign.  It is very difficult to distinguish between the two for the pathologist.  However, Spitz nevi are common in children and not in adults so age does play a part.  I have never seen anything that says having Spitz nevi puts you are higher risk for melanoma later.  

As far as genetic testing, they believe that only around 10% of melanoma primaries are formed from genetic defects – the rest develop sporadically.  Melanoma can run in families and still not be from a genetic defect but from shared high risk characteristics like hair color, skin type and sun exposure.  True genetic defects would show up in every generation and for the clinical trial I was on, they wouldn't even let you participate unless you had 3 relatives with melanoma in multiple generations.  So unless you have a very strong family history of melanoma (parents, grandparents), it's unlikely that you carry a genetic defect for the disease.  If you have had melanoma, though, your family is at higher risk to start.  Not HIGH risk, but higher risk than the general population.  If your kids are fair, red headed, blue eyes, easily burn — they are at higher risk than the general population to start.  If you have dysplastic nevus syndrome, you are at higher risk for melanoma, but there isn't a single gene (genetic defect) associated with that syndrome.  Genetic testing is usually not covered under any insurance.

The reason Spitz nevi are termed juvenile melanoma is not because they are really related to melanoma…. but they LOOK like melanoma under the microscope.  Spitz nevi are totally benign.  It is very difficult to distinguish between the two for the pathologist.  However, Spitz nevi are common in children and not in adults so age does play a part.  I have never seen anything that says having Spitz nevi puts you are higher risk for melanoma later.  

As far as genetic testing, they believe that only around 10% of melanoma primaries are formed from genetic defects – the rest develop sporadically.  Melanoma can run in families and still not be from a genetic defect but from shared high risk characteristics like hair color, skin type and sun exposure.  True genetic defects would show up in every generation and for the clinical trial I was on, they wouldn't even let you participate unless you had 3 relatives with melanoma in multiple generations.  So unless you have a very strong family history of melanoma (parents, grandparents), it's unlikely that you carry a genetic defect for the disease.  If you have had melanoma, though, your family is at higher risk to start.  Not HIGH risk, but higher risk than the general population.  If your kids are fair, red headed, blue eyes, easily burn — they are at higher risk than the general population to start.  If you have dysplastic nevus syndrome, you are at higher risk for melanoma, but there isn't a single gene (genetic defect) associated with that syndrome.  Genetic testing is usually not covered under any insurance.

The reason Spitz nevi are termed juvenile melanoma is not because they are really related to melanoma…. but they LOOK like melanoma under the microscope.  Spitz nevi are totally benign.  It is very difficult to distinguish between the two for the pathologist.  However, Spitz nevi are common in children and not in adults so age does play a part.  I have never seen anything that says having Spitz nevi puts you are higher risk for melanoma later.  

As far as genetic testing, they believe that only around 10% of melanoma primaries are formed from genetic defects – the rest develop sporadically.  Melanoma can run in families and still not be from a genetic defect but from shared high risk characteristics like hair color, skin type and sun exposure.  True genetic defects would show up in every generation and for the clinical trial I was on, they wouldn't even let you participate unless you had 3 relatives with melanoma in multiple generations.  So unless you have a very strong family history of melanoma (parents, grandparents), it's unlikely that you carry a genetic defect for the disease.  If you have had melanoma, though, your family is at higher risk to start.  Not HIGH risk, but higher risk than the general population.  If your kids are fair, red headed, blue eyes, easily burn — they are at higher risk than the general population to start.  If you have dysplastic nevus syndrome, you are at higher risk for melanoma, but there isn't a single gene (genetic defect) associated with that syndrome.  Genetic testing is usually not covered under any insurance.