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Abstract
In selecting the topic that I did for this Friedenwald Lecture, I wish to pay tribute to Jonas Friedenwald's interest in and contributions to ocular histology and pathology and to his long efforts to establish the Registry and Laboratory of Ophthalmic Pathology of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology as a veritable mecca for both the clinician and the pathologist interested in pathology of the eye.
I have reviewed current concepts concerning melanocytes and certain melanocytic tumors. I have given you my own ideas about a distinctive group of benign melanocytic tumors that have often been mistaken by both the ophthalmologist and the pathologist for malignant melanoma. I have told you why I prefer the name "melanocytoma" for these tumors, but I have also indicated that biologically they might be considerated melanotic progonomas.
Finally, in closing, I have suggested that even in this day of ultrascientific research involving teams of basic scientists, there remain much for the good clinician and the old-fashioned pathologist to contribute to ophthalmic research.