Cytomorphologic diagnosis of malignant melanoma by fine-needle aspiration

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy is an important diagnostic technique that complements and often replaces, to some extent, surgical pathology in many clinical situations. The purpose of this technique is to obtain diagnostic material for cytologic evaluation and diagnosis from organs that do not shed spontaneously. This is of paramount importance in a tumor, such as malignant melanoma, that can be present in virtually any organ/body site. Obtaining cytologic material for diagnosing primary/metastatic melanoma of internal organs using fine-needle is a safe, reliable, and easy method of providing the diagnosis. In addition, material can be obtained to perform ancillary studies, including immunocytochemistry and electron microscopy, in difficult cases rendering more precise diagnoses. This article provides a brief history of fine-needle aspiration, describes the fine-needle aspiration technique, and outlines the cytomorphologic features of malignant melanoma along with the use of ancillary techniques, such as immunocytochemistry and electron microscopy.