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Spitzoid Neoplasm Repository

Yale School of Medicine’s Spitzoid Neoplasm Repository is an international biospecimen and data collection bank, used to conduct research to better understand, diagnose, and treat Spitzoid neoplasms.

The Spitzoid Neoplasm Repository is an invaluable resource for researchers looking for specific markers and/or genetic abnormalities in neoplastic cells. The Repository facilitates all angles of research, including immunohistochemical, molecular, genetic and other studies.

Researchers and collaborators within the Yale Medical Group as well as researchers from other institutions can participate. The results of these studies will be correlated with the clinical information in order to correctly differentiate and categorize Spitzoid neoplasms. This will increase our knowledge and lead to better understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of Spitzoid neoplasms in the future.

Our Goals

The goal of the repository is to better understand Spitzoid neoplasm biology and reliably diagnose and treat Spitzoid neoplasms.

To do so, we plan to:

Conduct research studies including immunohistochemical, molecular, and genetic studies in order to identify specific markers and/or genetic aberrations in the lesional cells.
Explore new diagnostic techniques and modalities to better differentiate between benign Spitz nevi and malignant melanomas in equivocal cases.
Correlate the results of these studies with the clinical information in order to better differentiate and categorize Spitzoid neoplasms.
By pursuing these goals, we hope to prevent aggressive surgical treatment in children and young adults.

Principal Investigator

Rossitza Lazova, MD

Associate Professor of Dermatology and Pathology

Director, Dermatopathology Fellowship Program

Study Coordinator

Megan Keenan, SNR

Phone
203.737.1090
1.866.430.7259(toll free)

Fax
203.785.6869

Participating in the Repository

For information for patients and family, please click at the link below:

http://medicine.yale.edu/dermatology/spitzoid/participate.aspx

Physicians

Pathologists or dermatopathologists who would like to contribute a case:
Please send us histologic slides and paraffin blocks on your patient after requesting an entry code for the Spitzoid Neoplasm Repository.

Dermatologists and other physicians can:
Provide the patient with our contact information
Give us permission to contact the patient directly
If patients are lost to follow up, please request an entry code for the Spitzoid Neoplasm Repository, then sign the release form linked below and send it to us in order to obtain tissue samples and paraffin blocks from the laboratory where the patient’s biopsy was diagnosed:

Release form