[Histopathological diagnosis of primary melanoma in 2011 and beyond?]

The diagnosis of melanoma is accompanied by numerous informations delivered in a systematic and synoptic histopathological report. Next to the ulceration and the tumor thickness, the clinician must know the significance of the number of mitosis, of the inflammation or of the lymphovascular invasion. We detail here each of the prognostic factor and present the last 7th edition of the TNM classification of the AJCC valid from January 2010. In therapy, concrete progresses have been done in metastatic melanoma. The explanation of the pathways involved in melanoma is of particular interest because it facilitates the comprehension of the different biological effects of these therapies. We present here briefly their molecular basis.