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Fluorescence in situ hybridization in melanoma diagnosis: Pros and cons

  • Authors:
    • Cristina-Raluca (Jitian) Mihulecea
    • Amalia Raluca Ceaușu
    • Nela Pușa Gaje
    • Maria Rotaru
    • Marius Raica
  • View Affiliations / Copyright

    Affiliations: Department of Microscopic Morphology and Histology, Angiogenesis Research Center, Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania, Department of Dermatology, Emergency Hospital of Sibiu County, 550245 Sibiu, Romania
    Copyright: © Mihulecea et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.
  • Article Number: 118
    |
    Published online on: April 14, 2025
       https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2025.12868
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Abstract

Melanocytic lesions frequently present diagnostic challenges due to their high degree of morphological heterogeneity. While histopathological examination remains the gold standard for melanoma diagnosis, alternative methods, such as fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), are used to support diagnosis in uncertain cases. FISH is a complementary diagnostic tool that can help differentiate between nevi and melanoma by detecting chromosomal anomalies. However, its accuracy is limited by false‑positive and false‑negative results. The present study assessed the utility and limitations of FISH in melanoma diagnosis by analyzing chromosomal anomalies in 18 melanocytic lesions previously classified as atypical nevi or melanoma based on dermoscopic and histopathological criteria. The results revealed that FISH confirmed nearly all atypical nevi as benign lesions (with the exception of one lesion); however, it failed to definitively confirm all melanomas. These findings highlight both the strengths and weaknesses of FISH, suggesting that while it is a useful adjunctive tool, it should not replace conventional histopathological examination. Instead, FISH should be interpreted with caution due to its potential for false‑positive and false‑negative results, underscoring the need for further studies to refine its diagnostic reliability.
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Copy and paste a formatted citation
Spandidos Publications style
Mihulecea C(, Ceaușu AR, Gaje NP, Rotaru M and Raica M: Fluorescence <em>in situ</em> hybridization in melanoma diagnosis: Pros and cons. Exp Ther Med 29: 118, 2025.
APA
Mihulecea, C.(., Ceaușu, A.R., Gaje, N.P., Rotaru, M., & Raica, M. (2025). Fluorescence <em>in situ</em> hybridization in melanoma diagnosis: Pros and cons. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 29, 118. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2025.12868
MLA
Mihulecea, C. (., Ceaușu, A. R., Gaje, N. P., Rotaru, M., Raica, M."Fluorescence <em>in situ</em> hybridization in melanoma diagnosis: Pros and cons". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 29.6 (2025): 118.
Chicago
Mihulecea, C. (., Ceaușu, A. R., Gaje, N. P., Rotaru, M., Raica, M."Fluorescence <em>in situ</em> hybridization in melanoma diagnosis: Pros and cons". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 29, no. 6 (2025): 118. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2025.12868
Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Mihulecea C(, Ceaușu AR, Gaje NP, Rotaru M and Raica M: Fluorescence <em>in situ</em> hybridization in melanoma diagnosis: Pros and cons. Exp Ther Med 29: 118, 2025.
APA
Mihulecea, C.(., Ceaușu, A.R., Gaje, N.P., Rotaru, M., & Raica, M. (2025). Fluorescence <em>in situ</em> hybridization in melanoma diagnosis: Pros and cons. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 29, 118. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2025.12868
MLA
Mihulecea, C. (., Ceaușu, A. R., Gaje, N. P., Rotaru, M., Raica, M."Fluorescence <em>in situ</em> hybridization in melanoma diagnosis: Pros and cons". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 29.6 (2025): 118.
Chicago
Mihulecea, C. (., Ceaușu, A. R., Gaje, N. P., Rotaru, M., Raica, M."Fluorescence <em>in situ</em> hybridization in melanoma diagnosis: Pros and cons". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 29, no. 6 (2025): 118. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2025.12868
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