Best practice No 162 - The histological reporting of melanoma

The incidence of malignant melanoma has increased steadily over the past 30 years and this type of malignancy is the leading cause of death from cutaneous malignant disease. Cutaneous malignancies, including melanoma, can be detected at a very early stage and a cure is possible with prompt detection and treatment. In recent years, and mainly because of increased awareness of the early detection of melanoma, histopathologists have been exposed more and more to melanocytic lesions. Therefore, it is essential that histopathologists are able to provide a report to the clinician that conveys relevant information in a concise and precise manner. This paper provides a set of guidelines aimed at helping histopathologists with the gross and microscopic description and diagnosis of malignant melanoma.