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The Pathology of Melanoma

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Abstract

Recent advances in techniques for pathologic evaluation of tumor tissue, updates in staging, and improvements in prognostication have brought pathologists to the forefront of the care of the melanoma patient. Specimen procurement, handling, and evaluation are all key to the production of a pathology report that guides the clinician to the proper treatment of the patient. This chapter summarizes the recent, relevant changes in the pathologic analysis of melanoma, highlighting the AJCC 8th edition guidelines, definitions of micrometastases, and staging of melanoma with an unknown primary. A discussion of the biomarkers often analyzed for prediction of response to targeted therapy is included, as well as a brief review of recently developed, commercially available molecular diagnostic techniques for evaluation of diagnostically challenging melanocytic lesions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Anatomic Pathology and Cutaneous Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA

    Jane L. Messina M.D.

  2. Department of Pathology, Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, IL, USA

    Rahel A. John M.D.

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  1. Jane L. Messina M.D.
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  2. Rahel A. John M.D.
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Correspondence to Jane L. Messina M.D. .

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  1. Louisiana State University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

    Adam I. Riker

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Messina, J.L., John, R.A. (2018). The Pathology of Melanoma. In: Riker, A. (eds) Melanoma. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-78310-9_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-78310-9_12

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