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Abstract

Cutaneous melanoma, although essentially a Single entity — a malignant tumour of cutaneous melanocytes — exhibits a wide spectrum of histological appearances. Some tumours are densely cellular, with a compact and nodular pattern of growth, whereas others consist of a diffuse and ill-defined paucicellular spindlecell proliferation which may be difficult to delineate from the surrounding tissues. Cell types vary from polygonal or rounded to elongated and dendritic; in some melanomas, the tumour cells show only very mild pleomorphism, in others, they are bizarre and exceedingly pleomorphic. Some tumours retain a very superficial growth pattern for many years, whereas others rapidly form masses which deeply penetrate the skin and underlying tissues.

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© 1992 Springer-Verlag London Limited

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Mooi, W.J., Krausz, T. (1992). The Histological Diagnosis of Cutaneous Melanoma. In: Kirkham, N., Cotton, D.W.K., Lallemand, R.C., White, J.E., Rosin, R.D. (eds) Diagnosis and Management of Melanoma in Clinical Practice. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-1925-8_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-1925-8_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-1927-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-1925-8

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