Although the ideal method of diagnosis of<unk>  is complete excisional biopsy, alternatives may be required according to the location of the<unk> . Dermatoscopy of<unk>  pigmented lesions is very difficult but can be accomplished with diligent focus. Initial confirmation of the suspicion can be done with a small wedge biopsy or small punch biopsy. Thin deep wedge biopsies can heal very well on<unk>  skin, and small punch biopsies can give enough clue to the malignant nature of the lesion. Once this confirmatory biopsy is done, a second complete excisional skin biopsy can be performed with a narrow surgical margin (1 mm). This second biopsy will determine the depth and invasiveness of the<unk> , and will help to define what the final treatment will be. If the<unk>  involves the nail fold and the nail bed, complete excision of the nail unit might be required. Final treatment might require wider excision (margins of 0.5 cm or more), digital amputation, lymphangiogram with lymph node dissection, or chemotherapy. Histology<unk>  <unk>  The main characteristic of<unk>  is continuous proliferation of atypical melanocytes at the dermoepidermal junction. Other histological signs of<unk>  include dermal invasion and desmoplasia. According to Scolyer et al.,<unk>  "is usually characterized in its earliest recognisable form as single atypical melanocytes scattered along the junctional epidermal layer".
Acral lentiginous melanoma
Lentigo maligna melanoma
Superficial spreading melanoma
Polypoid melanoma
Nodular melanoma
Melanocytic nevus
Animal-type melanoma
Pseudomelanoma