Compound blue nevus: a reappraisal of the concept in the genomic era

We report a series of 21 compound blue nevi, a rare variant in the vast clinical and morphological spectrum of blue melanocytic proliferations. Clinically, they presented in young adults, with a slight female predominance. One-third were located on the dorsum of the foot. Morphologically, all cases displayed large dendritic melanocytes restricted to the deep layers of the epidermis. The compound component was central and evenly distributed. Melanocytic density ranged from scarce isolated cells to a confluent lentiginous architecture. In 12 of the 21 cases, junctional nests of small, bland, weakly pigmented melanocytes were associated. These nests became confluent in the most cellular cases. In all cases, a dermal component was immediately present underneath, mainly of cellular blue nevus-type. All cases were genetically confirmed to harbor either a GNAQ or GNA11 hotspot mutation. This study expands the morphological spectrum of blue nevi that should not be restricted to a strictly intradermal melanocytic proliferation.