- ABCDE rule
The ABCDE rule (Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Color variegation, Diameter >6 mm, elevation or evolution), originally described by Friedman et al., is a useful tool in facilitating the diagnosis of malignant melanoma and it is now included among The Seven Warning Signals of Cancer of “The American Cancer Society” and it’s a simple method that can identify nevi at risk. The ABCDE is a simple method that can help describe a subset of melanomas, namely early, thin tumorsthat might otherwise be confused with benign pigmented lesions.
- ABCDE : Asimmetry
- Asimmetry: draw a line through a normal mole, you would have two symmetrical halves. In cases of suspect melanoma, the two halves don’t look the same
- .
- ABCDE : Irregular border
- Irregular border: A mole with birregular edges.
- ABCDE : different colours
- Different colours: A mole that is more than one hue (black, brown, red, white, blue) is suspicious
- ABCDE :Diameter > 6mm
- ABCDE : Elevation/Evolving
- Elevation/Evolving: elevation means the mole is raised above the surface. Evolving means that itis changing in size, shape, color.
