Aspiration biopsy cytology and melanoma

Fine needle aspiration biopsy cytology (ABC) has proven to be a valuable tool for diagnosis of metastatic and primary melanoma. The ABC of 28 cases was studied and the findings tabulated. Melanin can be verified by Fontana-Masson stain. Additional salient features include cell isolation, anisocytosis, multinucleation, eosinophilic nucleoli, and intranuclear inclusions. Use of all of these cytomorphologic findings will result in accurate diagnosis of melanoma by ABC.