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Applications of Additional Techniques to Melanocytic Pathology

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Pathology of Challenging Melanocytic Neoplasms

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Abstract

Within the last 10 years, it has become evident that the traditional histologic classification of melanoma based upon cellular and architectural phenotypes (e.g., acral, superficial spreading, lentigo maligna) correlates with distinct, recurring genetic alterations. Thus, lentigo maligna, typically located in areas of chronic sun exposure, shows genetic abnormalities distinct from those seen in superficial spreading melanomas, which commonly occur on the trunk, and thus have a lesser degree of sun exposure. Molecular techniques such as fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), and DNA sequencing methodologies can detect such differences. As an example, CGH indicates that more than 95 % of melanomas show chromosomal copy number aberrations and as many as 80 % of cutaneous melanomas have mutations in BRAF, NRAS, or KIT. This chapter will review the common mutations and the role of these techniques in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of cutaneous melanoma.

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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

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  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). Applications of Additional Techniques to Melanocytic Pathology. 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_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1444-9_5

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-1443-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-1444-9

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