A new, rapid, microwave-stimulated method of staining melanocytic lesions.

A new and sensitive method of staining melanocytic lesions is described. Tissue sections covered by a solution of colloidal silver nitrate are exposed to microwaves for 45 sec in a domestic oven to produce clean, crisp staining of melanocytes and melanoma cells, often showing long delicate dendritic cell processes. The staining technique does not stain other pigments or argyrophilic tissues and is shown to be more sensitive than the standard Masson-Fontana procedure.