Molecular diagnosis of melanocytic tumors

Abstract

Melanoma therapy has undergone a paradigm shift. Classic chemotherapies with poor treatment responses have been replaced by modern immune checkpoint blockades and targeted therapies with excellent responses. The latter require precise diagnosis of mutations in the melanoma genome as molecular targets for the small molecules. The diagnosis of melanomas has also been supplemented by molecular techniques. Differential diagnosis of melanoma and melanoma simulators such as atypical Spitz nevi can be supported by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and comparative genomic hybridization (CGH). Here we review the indications and methods for molecular diagnosis of melanocytic tumors.