CHROMOSOMAL MOSAICISM IN 2 PATIENTS WITH EPIDERMAL VERRUCOUS NEVUS - DEMONSTRATION OF CHROMOSOMAL BREAKPOINT

Linear epidermal nevi are hamartomas that originate in embryonic ectod erm. For epidermal nevi associated with involvement of other systems, such as the skeleton or central nervous system, the term epidermal nev us syndrome has been introduced. Chromosomal aberrations have been sug gested but not proven as an underlying cause. We performed cytogenetic studies of skin cells from two unrelated men who had a verruciform ep idermal nevus. Variegated translocation mosaicism with an identical br eakpoint localized at the long arm of chromosome 1 was present in both patients. Normal skin and blood lymphocytes showed normal karyotypes.