Invasive Melanoma

3rd edition – January 2026

Updated following the publication of the 2025 World Health Organization (WHO) Classification of Skin Tumours, 5th edition.

This 3rd edition dataset was developed with the kind support of the International Melanoma Pathology Study Group (IMPSG).

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

• Updated to Union for International Cancer Control TNM9 staging, including errata published October 2025.
• Revised guide to harmonise with ICCR style for element titles and value list.
• ‘Clinical intent of procedure’ was incorporated into new element ‘Clinical information’.
• ‘Macroscopic satellite lesions’ element was incorporated into element for ‘Non-nodal locoregional cutaneous metastases’.
• Consolidated element for ‘Macroscopic primary lesion dimensions’ into ‘Macroscopic primary lesion description’.
• Element for ‘Macroscopic satellite lesions’ amalgamated into ‘Non-nodal locoregional cutaneous metastases’.
• Added new non-core element ‘Block identification key’.
• Renamed ‘Melanoma subtype’ to ‘Histological tumour type’ and changed to a core element.
• Renamed ‘Microsatellites’ to ‘Non-nodal locoregional cutaneous metastases’.
• Updated ‘Lymphovascular invasion’ to also include ‘Immunohistochemistry’ as a non-core item.
• Renamed ‘Neurotropism’ to ‘Perineural invasion’.
• Renamed ‘Associated melanocytic lesion’ to ‘Associated melanocytic naevus or other lesion’
• ‘Desmoplastic melanoma component’ was incorporated into ‘Histological tumour type’.
• ‘Lymph node status’ to also include ‘Nodal naevus present’ as a non-core item.
• Expanded the ‘Ancillary studies’ element, including adding ‘Representative blocks for ancillary studies’.
• Other minor updates to elements were also included.
• Revised all notes, including incorporation of the 2025 WHO Classification of Skin Tumours, 5th edition.

• To reference this dataset please use the following citation: Busam KJ, Balamurugan T, Blokx WAM, de la Fouchardière A, Gershenwald J, Massi D, McMenamin M, Potter AJ, Prieto VG, Scolyer RA, Shiau CJ, Yun SJ, Hewer E (2026). Invasive Melanoma Histopathology Reporting Guide. 3rd edition. International Collaboration on Cancer Reporting; Sydney, Australia. ISBN: 978-1-922324-77-1.

2nd edition – October 2019

• To reference this dataset please use the following citation: Scolyer RA, Balamurgan T, Busam K, Elder D, Evans A, Gershenwald J, Frishberg DP, McMenamin M, Prieto VG, Shiau C, Swetter S, van den Oord J (2019). Invasive Melanoma Histopathology Reporting Guide. 2nd edition. International Collaboration on Cancer Reporting; Sydney, Australia. ISBN: 978-1-925687-32-3.

1st edition – November 2013

Developed as part of the initial pilot project in 2011-2012.

• Read more on the Melanoma dataset (1st edition) from the journal article written by the dataset authors: Data set for pathology reporting of cutaneous invasive melanoma: recommendations from the international collaboration on cancer reporting (ICCR). Scolyer RA, Judge MJ, Evans A, Frishberg DP, Prieto VG, Thompson JF, Trotter MJ, Walsh MY, Walsh NMG, Ellis DW. Am J Surg Pathol. 2013 Dec;37(12):1797-814. doi: 10.1097/PAS.0b013e31829d7f35.

The 3rd edition of the dataset for Invasive melanoma was developed by the following international team:

Authors of previous editions of this dataset are available here