The evaluation of inflammatory infiltrate (tumor infiltrating lymphocytes - TIL) should be a standard part of biopsy examination for malignant melanoma. Currently, the most commonly used assessment method according to Clark is not optimal and there have been attempts to find an alternative system. Here we present an overview of possible approaches involving five different evaluation methods based on hematoxylin-eosin staining, including the recent suggestion of unified TIL evaluation method for all solid tumors. The issue of methodology, prognostic and predictive significance of TIL determination as well as the importance of immunohistochemical subtyping of inflammatory infiltrate is discussed.
Keywords: malignant melanoma - tumor infiltrating lymphocytes - prediction - prognosis..