24. Malignant melanoma: nontumorigenic compartment of primary malignant melanoma (radial growth phase), tumorigenic compartment of primary malignant melanoma (vertical growth phase)

 
Quotation from the 9th edition of Lever's:
 
"Typically, about 90% of all melanomas have a nontumorigenic compartment and about half of these also have a tumorigenic focus; and about 10% of melanomas, termed 'nodular melanomas,' have a tumorigenic but no in situ or invasive compartment."
 
"A tumorigenic VGP [vertical growth phase] may develop in association with any of these [nontumorigenic melanoma] to form a 'complex' primary melanoma. In such cases, the histology shows a tumorigenic compartment adjacent to or within the confines of a nontumorigenic compartment. Nodular melanoma differs from these complex melanomas in that it is a tumorigenic melanoma with no clinically or histopatholocally evident adjacent nontumorigenic compartment."
 
Reference in the 9th edition to concepts contrary by A. Bernard Ackerman et al. (ABA): None.
 
Statements contrary by ABA:
 
"Xserious flaws bedevil the proposition of radial growth phase versus vertical growth phase, among them radial and vertical not being contrasting (vertical being a component of radial and contrasting with horizontal) and, more important, pathologists not being able to determine with repeatability where the so-called radial growth phase ends and the so-called vertical growth phase begins."
 
Ackerman AB. Mythology and numerology in the sphere of melanoma. Dermatopathology: Practical & Conceptual, 2000
 
"Preliminary insight into how limited is the concept of radial and vertical growth phases of melanoma can be gained from noting that the terms radial and vertical are not contrasting. Vertical is a component of radial. Vertical and horizontal are contrasting. To write, and repeatedly, of radial as opposed to vertical growth phases of melanoma, when those phrases are not contrasting, indicates that the premise of the hypothesis is flawed."
 
Ackerman AB, Cavegn BM, Casintahan MF, Robinson MJ. Resolving Quandaries in Dermatology, Pathology and Dermatopathology. Promethean Medical Press/Waverly, pp 269-270. 1995.
 
"The terms radial and vertical growth phase of melanoma are simply new names for an old concept now abandoned, namely, Clark's 'levels of invasion of melanoma'.XChanging the names to radial and vertical did not change the concept; it continued to lack authenticity."
 
Ackerman AB, Cavegn BM, Casintahan MF, Robinson MJ. Resolving Quandaries in Dermatology, Pathology and Dermatopathology. Promethean Medical Press/Waverly, pp 269-270. 1995.
 
Other works of ABA in which the ideas contrary are expressed:
 
1. Ackerman AB, Cerroni L, Kerl H. Pitfalls in Histopathologic Diagnosis of Malignant Melanoma. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger, 1994.
 
2. Ackerman AB, Cavegn BM, Casintahan MF, Robinson MJ. Resolving Quandaries in Dermatology, Pathology and Dermatopathology. Promethean Medical Press/Waverly, pp 269-270. 1995.
 
3. Ackerman AB. Mythology and numerology in the sphere of melanoma. Dermatopathology: Practical & Conceptual, 6(3), 2000