The goal of pathologic diagnosis in malignant melanoma, as any lesion, is to relate the histologic findings to potential cell behavior and clinical outcome. Pathologists recognize malignant melanoma from benign or atypical melanocytic proliferations using architectural and cellular criteria; however, criteria are not always agreed upon.<sup>2Ackerman A.B. Discordance among expert pathologists in diagnosis of melanocytic neoplasms Hum Pathol 1996 ;  27 : 1115 [cross-ref]

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti</sup> Expert dermatopathologists demonstrate only moderate concordance even when restricting the question to simply benign versus malignant.<sup>25Farmer E.R., Gonin R., Hanna M.P. Discordance in the histopathologic diagnosis of melanoma and melanocytic nevi between expert pathologists Hum Pathol 1996 ;  27 : 528 [cross-ref]

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti</sup> There is clearly a greater need for more specific formalized weighted criteria or other tools to better diagnose and predict the behavior of melanocytic proliferations. Yet enormous progress has been made in the last 30 years in the recognition of precursor lesions, tumor progression,<sup>15Clark W. What is inherited in neoplastic systems? Animal models of cutaneous malignant melanoma Lab Invest 1994 ;  71 : 1

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti</sup> and the diagnosis of melanoma. This article will focus on the histologic features of melanoma that contribute to the refinement of prognosis and treatment of individual patients.