Melanoma Micromets
Also known as: Melanoma micrometastases
Use
Melanoma micrometastases, or micromets, consist of small groups of melanoma cancer cells that have spread through the lymphovascular system. The presence of metastasis in sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) can indicate that cutaneous melanoma has spread to other sites, aiding in the diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy decisions. SLN status is a strong predictor of survival in clinical stage I/II melanoma patients. The most accurate way to assess lymph node metastasis is through histologic evaluation using a microscope, as many patients may have lymph nodes that appear clinically negative.
Special Instructions
Histologic evaluation for melanoma involves sectioning the tissue block at three different levels and staining each level with H&E. Melanoma micromet detection benefits from using a combination of markers such as HMB45 and Melan A. It's recommended to correlate IHC and H&E slides and compare with primary tumor cytomorphology in challenging cases.
Limitations
Malignant melanoma can test negative for at least one lineage-specific marker. Hence, it's beneficial to use multiple markers for accurate micromet detection.
Methodology
Immunoassay (IHC)
Biomarkers
Result Turnaround Time
24 hours
Related Documents
For more information, please review the documents below
Specimen
Tissue (FFPE)
Volume
Not provided
Minimum Volume
Not provided
Container
Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue block
Collection Instructions
Block identifiers must be clearly written and match with the specimen ID and labeling on the requisition.
Storage Instructions
Use cold pack for transport, ensuring it isn't in direct contact with the specimen. NYS clients should provide date and time of collection.
