Abstract
This article provides a historical overview of melanoma, involving the knowledge of this neoplasm from antiquity to the present. Selected people who made key descriptions of the disease, its symptoms, and treatment methods were listed. The classification of melanoma, which is used in therapeutic management nowadays, is briefly discussed. Additionally, we describe circulating tumour cells and the selected diagnostic methods associated with their detection and characteristics. The aim of this article is to present a historical outline of melanoma, as well as its classification and the development of laboratory methods of its diagnosis. In addition, we have also provided a comparison of historical and current knowledge of this malignancy.