Data from: Reflectance confocal microscopy features of BRAF V600E mutated thin melanomas detected by immunohistochemistry

The classification of melanoma into four histological subtypes has been
questioned regarding its clinical validity in providing relevant
information for treatment for metastatic tumors. Specific genetic
alterations are associated with particular clinical and histopathological
features, suggesting that these could be helpful in refining existing
melanoma classification schemes. We analyzed BRAF V600E mutated melanomas
to explore the Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) utility as a
screening aid in the evaluation of the most appropriate patients for
genetic testing. Thus, 32 melanomas were assessed regarding their BRAF
V600E mutational status. Experts blinded to dermoscopic images and V600E
immunohistochemistry results evaluated RCM images regarding previously
described melanoma features. BRAF positive melanomas were related to
younger age (p=0.035), invasive melanomas (p=0.03) and to the presence of
hiporreflective cells (p=0.02), epidermal nests (p=0.02), dermal-epidermal
junction nests (p=0.05), edged papillae (p=0.05), and bright dots
(p=0.05), and to absence of junctional thickening due to isolated cells
(p=0.01) and meshwork (p=0.02). This study can not characterize other
mutations in the BRAF, because the immunohistochemistry is specific to the
type V600E. The findings should encourage the genetic evaluation of BRAF
mutation. This study highlights the potential of RCM as a supplementary
tool in the screening of BRAF-mutated melanomas.