20. Malignant melanoma (classification)

 
Quotation from the 9th edition of Lever's:
 
" Melanoma in situ and nontumorigenic invasive melanoma can be divided into (a) lentigo maligna, (b) superficial spreading, (c) acral lentiginous, and (d) mucosal lentiginous types."
 
"The fact that categorization of an individual case is occasionally difficult does not mean that classification of melanoma, after accounting for tumor thickness and site, is unnecessary, as has been stated."
 
Reference in the 9th edition to concepts contrary by A. Bernard Ackerman et al. (ABA):
 
Ackerman AB. Malignant melanoma: a unifying concept. Am J Dermatopathol 2:309-313, 1980.
 
Statements contrary by ABA:
 
"In the 1970s and 1980s, and even in the 1990s, pathologists everywhere utilized a "histogenetic" classification of melanoma, proposed by Wallace H. Clark, Jr., in the 1960s, which, based on attributes of the neoplasm in the "radial growth phase," came to consist of three distinct variants of melanoma, clinically, histopathologically, and biologically. Those types were named lentigo maligna melanoma, superficial spreading melanoma, and acrolentiginous melanoma. The classification, rather than truly being histogenetic, was actually predicated on anatomic site, that is, melanomas on the head and neck (especially of skin injured severely by sunlight) were called "lentigo maligna melanoma," those on the trunk and on the extremities above the acra "superficial spreading melanoma," and those on palms and soles and in nail units "acrolentiginous melanoma." In reality, criteria for diagnosis of melanoma, clinically and histopathologically, are the same on all anatomic sites."
 
Ackerman AB. Mythology and numerology in the sphere of melanoma. Dermatopathology: Practical & Conceptual 6(3): 251-256, 2000.
 
Other works of ABA in which the ideas contrary are expressed:
 
1. Exploding Myths: Melanocytic Neoplasms (video). Available at: www.derm101.com, 2005.
 
2. Ackerman AB. Correspondence. To the editor: melanoma in situ. Hum Pathol. 29(11):1328–9, 1998.
 
3. Ackerman AB. Melanoma in situ and matters that transcend it. Hum Pathol. 29(1): 4-5, 1998.
 
4. Ackerman AB, Cavegn BM, Casintahan MF, Robinson MJ. Resolving Quandaries in Dermatology, Pathology and Dermatopathology. Promethean Medical Press/Waverly, 1995.
 
5. Ackerman AB, Cerroni L, Kerl H. Pitfalls in Histopathologic Diagnosis of Malignant Melanoma. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger, 1994.
 
6. Ackerman AB. A critique of an NIH consensus development conference about "early melanoma." Am J Dermatopathol. 15(1):52-58 (February) 1993.
 
7. Ackerman AB, Borghi S. "Pagetoid melanocytic proliferation" is the latest evasion from a diagnosis of "melanoma in situ." Am J Dermatopathol.13(6):583-604 (December) 1991.
 
8. Ackerman AB, Dubow B. Malignant melanoma in situ: the evolution of a concept. Mod Pathol. 3(6):734-744, 1990.
 
9. Maize J, Ackerman AB. Pigmented Lesions of the Skin. (Now on the list of Ardor Scribendi, NYC) 1987.
 
10. Ackerman AB, David KM. A unifying concept of malignant melanoma: biological aspects. Hum Pathol. 17:438-440 (May) 1986.
 
11. Ackerman AB. Malignant melanoma in situ. Pathology: J Royal Coll Pathol Australasia 17:298-300 (April) 1985.
 
12. Ackerman AB. Editorial. No one should die of malignant melanoma. J Am Acad Dermatol. 12:115-116 (January) 1985.
 
13. Ackerman AB, Ragaz A. The Lives of Lesions: Chronology in Dermatopathology. Masson Publishing USA, Inc., 1984. (Now on list of Ardor Scribendi.)
 
14. Ackerman AB. Controversies in dermatopathology. Histopathologists can diagnose malignant melanoma in situ correctly and consistently. Am J Dermatopathol. 6:103-108 (Supplement, Summer) 1984.
 
15. Ackerman AB. Macular and patch lesions of malignant melanoma: malignant melanoma in situ. J. Dermatol. Surg Oncol. 9:615-618 (August) 1983.
 
16. Ackerman AB. Disagreements with the current classification of malignant melanomas. Am J Surg Pathol. 6:733-743 (December) 1982.
 
17. Ackerman AB. Malignant melanoma: a unifying concept. Hum Pathol. 11:591-597 (November) 1980.
 
18. Kopf A, Bart R, Rodriguez-Sains R, Ackerman AB. Malignant Melanoma. Masson Publishing USA, Inc., 1979. (Now on list of Lippincott /Williams & Wilkins.)