THE histological features which distinguish a malignant melanoma from a benign naevus cell tumour include the following: active, atypical, irregular naevus cell proliferation at, and with destruction of, epidermal-dermal junction, invasion of dermis and epidermis often with ulceration, disorderly cell distribution with loss of naevus nest pattern, frequency of mitoses, nuclear hyperchromasia and cellular pleomorphism; melanin pigment though sometimes increased may be absent.There is a wide variation in the reported 5 year survival of patients with malignant melanomas, ranging from 05 Y% (Bloodgood, 1922) The histological features were defined as follows, omitting those which are self explanatory. Polypoid growth includes lesions protruding above the general skin surface, whether with a smooth or papillary outline. Epidermal hyperplasia refers to squamous and basal cell proliferation at the edges of or over a lesion and is graded as absent or minimal, 0-1; moderate-marked, 2-3. Depth of spread is related to the position of sweat glands and the lesion may be superficial or deep.Cell morphology is divided into epithelial or spindle and best assessed in cells adjacent to vessels, so allowing for plane of sectioning. The proportion of epithellal and spindle cells were graded: 0-absent, 1-less than 33 %, 2-more than 33 % but less than 66 % and 3-more than 66 % per high power field. Naevoid
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