What are key histological features of melanoma?

The histological features of melanoma are closely associated with the presence of melanin, which is produced by melanocytes. Intracytoplasmic melanin granulomas indicate the accumulation of melanin within the tumor cells, highlighting the neoplastic nature of melanocytes and supporting the diagnosis of melanoma. This feature helps pathologists distinguish melanoma from other tumors where melanin is not a significant component.

Melanoma often exhibits significant variations in cellularity, atypical cell shapes, and pigmentation, which do not align with low cellularity or uniform morphology depicted in other choices. The presence of prominent intercellular bridges is characteristic of epithelial tumors rather than melanomas, while desmoplastic stroma is associated with other tumor types, including some sarcomas.

Therefore, recognizing the presence of intracytoplasmic melanin granules is crucial in diagnosing melanoma, as it underscores the malignant nature of the cells involved and their origin as melanocyte derivatives.