Dermoscopy, reflectance confocal microscopy and histopathology of an amelanotic melanoma from an individual heterozygous for MC1R and tyrosinase variant alleles

Australas J Dermatol. 2012 Nov;53(4):291-4. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-0960.2012.00882.x. Epub 2012 Apr 12.

Abstract

We present a case of an amelanotic nodular melanoma occurring in a 26-year-old woman who carried a heterozygous (melancortin-1-receptor) MC1R 160R/W and tyrosinase (TYR) 402R/Q genotype and had a dark hair phenotype. We present dermoscopic, reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) and histopathological images of the melanoma. We discuss the relationship between MC1R red hair colour (RHC) variants, TYR variants, phenotype and melanoma development. We also discuss the merits of RCM as an additional diagnostic aid for equivocal melanocytic lesions.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Dermoscopy
  • Female
  • Heterozygote
  • Humans
  • Melanoma, Amelanotic / genetics*
  • Melanoma, Amelanotic / pathology*
  • Melanoma, Amelanotic / surgery
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Monophenol Monooxygenase / genetics
  • Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 1 / genetics
  • Skin Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Skin Neoplasms / surgery

Substances

  • Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 1
  • Monophenol Monooxygenase