title: Use of immunohistochemistry in melanocytic lesions.
abstract: The great majority of cutaneous melanocytic lesions can be readily classified as one of the defined diagnostic entities, either benign or malignant. Therefore, only in a minority of lesions, it is necessary to employ ancillary techniques to help in the diagnosis. The most popular and probably the most helpful of these is immunohistochemistry: an area in which Dr McNutt has made some of his most important scholarly contributions. Following Dr McNutt's lead, in this article, we describe the use of immunohistochemistry as a diagnostic aid in dermatopathology as well as the potential pitfalls commonly encountered in practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA. vprieto@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: Victor G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Prieto
authors.forename: Christopher R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Shea
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism