Recent Advances in Pathologic Evaluation and Reporting of Melanoma

Recent changes to the staging of melanoma, coupled with advances in surgical and medical treatment, have resulted in new methods for diagnostic evaluation and reporting of melanocytic lesions by pathologists. This review provides an update on recent changes in evaluation and reporting of primary melanoma, evaluation of regional lymph nodes, especially sentinel nodes, and the workup of distant metastatic melanoma specimens. A brief summary of commercially available molecular diagnostic techniques and their application to practice is included.