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Anathema or Useful? Application of Immunohistochemistry to the Diagnosis of Melanocytic Lesions

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Pathology of Challenging Melanocytic Neoplasms

Abstract

Most melanocytic lesions may be accurately classified as benign or malignant by histologic analysis alone. Thus, only in a minority of lesions is it necessary to employ other techniques to aid in the diagnosis. Among those techniques, most authors recommend immunohistochemistry. Lately, there have also been studies indicating the possible usefulness of in situ hybridization and comparative genomic hybridization. In this chapter we describe our experience in the diagnosis of melanocytic lesions with special emphasis on the application of immunohistochemistry and the other techniques to particular differential diagnoses and their potential pitfalls.

We should always keep in mind that there is no single marker, or combination thereof, that establishes an unequivocal diagnosis of melanoma or nevus. Thus it is necessary to carefully analyze the pattern of expression (patchy versus diffuse) and localization (maturation) and correlate them with the morphologic, standard features.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Houston, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Unit 85, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Victor G. Prieto M.D., Ph.D.

  2. University of Chicago Medicine, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., MC 5067, L502, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA

    Christopher R. Shea

  3. CellNEtix Pathology & Laboratories, 1124 Columbia St., Suite 200, Seattle, WA, 98117, USA

    Jon A. Reed

Authors
  1. Victor G. Prieto M.D., Ph.D.
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  2. Christopher R. Shea
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  3. Jon A. Reed
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Victor G. Prieto M.D., Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Dermatology, University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA

    Christopher R. Shea

  2. Department of Pathology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA

    Jon A. Reed

  3. Department of Pathology, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer, Houston, Texas, USA

    Victor G. Prieto

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Prieto, V.G., Shea, C.R., Reed, J.A. (2015). Anathema or Useful? Application of Immunohistochemistry to the Diagnosis of Melanocytic Lesions. In: Shea, C., Reed, J., Prieto, V. (eds) Pathology of Challenging Melanocytic Neoplasms. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1444-9_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1444-9_4

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  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-1444-9

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