Milne

 
"The term melanocarcinoma is preferred to the more common term malignant melanoma so that there cannot be any possible confusion with benign lesions such as the juvenile melanoma.
 
There are a number of histologic criteria which offer considerable help. These are:
 
  1. The upward infiltration of the epidermis by abnormal melanocytes.
  2. The size of the melanocytic nuclei.
  3. The presence of an inflammatory process in the papillary dermis . . . "
 
Milne JA. An Introduction to the diagnostic histopathology of the skin. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins, 1972:308.
 

Brief Critique

 
The three findings said by Milne to be of considerable help in diagnosis of melanoma are expected findings in many examples of Spitz's nevus. As has been stated already, melanocytes are non-epithelial and, therefore, melanoma is a sarcoma, not a carcinoma.