Transepidermal Elimination of Nevus Cells in Spindle and Epithelioid Cell (Spitz) Nevi

To the Editor.—  Transepidermal elimination (TEE) is a mechanism by which a substance is eliminated through the epidermis.¹ Although more common in disorders associated with altered connective tissue, it also occurs in melanocytic nevi. In nevi, it has been noted in about 2% of cases.²The Spitz nevus (spindle and epithelioid cell nevus or benign juvenile melanoma) is a benign tumor found predominantly in children and adolescents.³ In a recent review of TEE of nevus cells in the Archives, Kantor and Wheeland⁴ reported three cases of benign melanocytic tumors with TEE, one a Spitz nevus. Transepidermal elimination of nevus cells of a Spitz nevus was also present in one of the six cases reported by Yuki et al.² Weedon and Little³ reported that 36% of 211 cases of Spitz nevi showed evidence of an upward migration of nevus cells within the epidermis. In four