Image Description
The concepts of radial (horizontal) growth phase and vertical (invasive) growth phase are important to understand with regards to the histological classification of melanomas.
Radial growth phase includes melanoma-in-situ as well as microinvasion into the papillary dermis (microinvasive radial growth phase) (shown here) which consists of single cells or small clusters histologically similar to their intraepidermal counterpart. Features of regression may be present. There are no mitoses. The presence of any dermal mitoses places the tumor in a vertical growth phase. Microinvasive radial growth phase lacks metastatic potential and has excellent prognosis.
Radial growth phase includes melanoma-in-situ as well as microinvasion into the papillary dermis (microinvasive radial growth phase) (shown here) which consists of single cells or small clusters histologically similar to their intraepidermal counterpart. Features of regression may be present. There are no mitoses. The presence of any dermal mitoses places the tumor in a vertical growth phase. Microinvasive radial growth phase lacks metastatic potential and has excellent prognosis.