The 20-minute rapid MART-1 immunostain for malignant melanoma frozen sections.

BACKGROUND: Immunohistochemical staining has been used to help detect malignant melanoma on Mohs surgery frozen sections. Previous investigators have developed protocols for reliable MART-1 immunostaining of frozen sections, but these protocols are time-consuming.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to report a rapid 20-minute MART-1 immunostaining protocol for frozen sections.

METHODS: The protocol was utilized on 30 melanomas treated with Mohs micrographic surgery.

RESULTS: The stain clearly highlighted normal background melanocytes, as well as melanocytic hyperplasia and malignant melanoma.

CONCLUSIONS: The 20-minute protocol provides a rapid and reliable method for immunostaining of malignant melanoma. The availability of more rapid immunostaining methods improves efficiency of the Mohs laboratory and significantly reduces patient and physician waiting time. The authors have indicated no significant interest with commercial supporters.