Immunohistochemistry in the diagnosis of melanocytic neoplasms.

Abstract

At present the primary role of immunohistochemistry is to define an immunophenotypic profile that is characteristic of melanocytes but rare in other cell types. Its future role may include prediction of how a melanocytic neoplasm will behave. This chapter outlines a strategy for the use of immunohistochemical procedures to identify a neoplasm as melanocytic and discusses the antibodies that are relatively melanoma-specific.