Blue Nevi and Related Tumors

Clin Lab Med. 2017 Sep;37(3):401-415. doi: 10.1016/j.cll.2017.05.001. Epub 2017 Jul 4.

Abstract

The major entities related to blue nevus are common blue nevus, cellular blue nevus, atypical blue nevus, and malignant blue nevus. These lesions share presence of dermal pigmented dendritic melanocytes derived from embryonal precursors to melanocytes, Schwann cells, and glial cells migrating to the skin from the ventral neural crest. Genetically, blue nevi harbor mutations in G-protein-coupled receptor subunits GNAQ and GNA11. Progression to malignant blue nevus is associated with additional mutations and partial gains and losses of chromosomal material. This article discusses recent advances in pathology of blue nevi with emphasis on differential diagnosis and molecular pathology.

Keywords: Atypical blue nevus; Blue nevus; Cellular blue nevus; Malignant blue nevus.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Disease Progression
  • Humans
  • Mutation
  • Nevus, Blue* / classification
  • Nevus, Blue* / diagnosis
  • Nevus, Blue* / genetics
  • Nevus, Blue* / pathology
  • Skin Neoplasms* / classification
  • Skin Neoplasms* / diagnosis
  • Skin Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Skin Neoplasms* / pathology