Pre and post-analytical guidelines for the microscopic diagnosis of melanoma: recommendations from the Brazilian Society of Pathology

Abstract

The guidelines project of the Brazilian Society of Pathology aims to disseminate recommendations for pathologists, surgeons, and clinicians, based on solid data from the literature and through adaptations of international guidelines to the reality of Brazilian physicians. This article is the result of the efforts of a group of pathologists, members of the Dermatopathology Committee of the Brazilian Society of Pathology, focused on melanocytic diseases, who, through topics, established pertinent recommendations for clinicians and surgeons for the accurate diagnosis of melanocytic lesions suspected of melanoma. This article aims to clarify the best way to perform excision in cases of suspected melanocytic lesions, as well as the pre-analytical care related to the material, how to interpret the anatomopathological report, and the situations in which immunohistochemical and molecular studies can be auxiliary tools for diagnosis and/or therapy.