ABSTRACT
Malignant melanoma (MM) is one of the most common cancers worldwide and also one of most aggressive cancers. It has been increasing at a greater rate than any other cancer. It has a favorable prognosis only if the affected area is removed at an early stage. MM reportedly causes the large majority of skin cancer deaths despite the fact that it accounts for <2% of skin cancer cases [1]. The incidence of MM has been increasing for >30 years [2] and one of its most ominous characteristics is its high propensity to produce distant metastases, because it can get disseminated throughout the body through lymphatic and hematogenous spread. For this reason, early detection and treatment of MM are crucial life-saving measures [3]. Although dermoscopy is a powerful diagnostic technique [4] and the ABCDE (abbreviation for asymmetrical shape, border, color, diameter, and evolution) rule provides a guide to the identification of involved areas [5], pathological examination is even now the gold standard for MM diagnosis. However, diagnosis remains subjective and highly reliant on the skill level of the pathologist. Interobserver reproducibility of MM diagnosis varies even among experts.
