An Atypical Deep Penetrating Nevus With Mutations in Beta Catenin , BRAFV600E , and IDH1R132C in an 8-Year-Old Boy

Am J Dermatopathol. 2022 Aug 1;44(8):607-610. doi: 10.1097/DAD.0000000000002198. Epub 2022 Apr 6.

Abstract

Deep penetrating nevus (DPN) is a pigmented melanocytic tumor which typically displays a wedge-shaped deep penetrating architecture. Some cases show a coexisting component resembling conventional melanocytic nevus. These morphological attributes are correlated with the acquisition of genomic alterations in the Wnt pathway on a background of underlying activating MAPK pathway mutations. Lesions with features of DPN, but displaying expansile architecture, sheet-like arrangement of cells, cytological atypia, and/or more than rare mitotic activity have been described as "atypical deep penetrating nevus" or "deep penetrating melanocytoma." The molecular correlates of these atypical morphological features are not well-established. In this case report, we describe a tumor in an 8-year-old boy with histological features of atypical DPN showing somatic BRAFV600E , beta catenin , and IDH1R132C mutations. The combination of abnormalities in MAPK and Wnt pathways with IDH1 mutations seems to be a reproducible feature in a subset of atypical DPNs. Whether this "three-hit" combination is associated with a significant risk of adverse outcome remains to be established.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mutation
  • Nevus, Epithelioid and Spindle Cell*
  • Nevus, Pigmented* / pathology
  • Skin Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Skin Neoplasms* / pathology
  • beta Catenin / genetics

Substances

  • beta Catenin