BACKGROUND/ OBJECTIVES: Many melanomas are of a diameter smaller than 6 mm and may lack classical asymmetry, border irregularity and colour variegation (ABCD). The objectives of this article are to characterise the fidelity of melanomas diagnosed in a high-risk clinic to the ABCD and to review potential methods for early clinical detection of melanoma. METHODS: All cases of primary melanoma diagnosed by one clinician at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center over the past 11 years were evaluated for the presence of the ABCD. The melanomas were analysed for asymmetry of contour, unevenness in distribution of colours and textures, border irregularity, number of colours present and diameter. RESULTS: In all, 236 melanomas were analysed. Of these, asymmetry of contour was present in 65% and 94% demonstrated unevenness in the distribution of colours and textures. The borders were regular in 12% of the melanomas and colour variegation was present in 63%. In total, 28% of the lesions were small, with a diameter less than 6 mm. This study was limited by the subjectivity of clinical lesion analysis. CONCLUSION: We put forward for your consideration a new mnemonic: 'Do UC (different, uneven, changing) the melanoma?' This mnemonic encompasses differential, analytical and comparative cognition strategies for an enhanced early detection of melanoma.
BACKGROUND/ OBJECTIVES: Many melanomas are of a diameter smaller than 6 mm and may lack classical asymmetry, border irregularity and colour variegation (ABCD). The objectives of this article are to characterise the fidelity of melanomas diagnosed in a high-risk clinic to the ABCD and to review potential methods for early clinical detection of melanoma. METHODS: All cases of primary melanoma diagnosed by one clinician at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center over the past 11 years were evaluated for the presence of the ABCD. The melanomas were analysed for asymmetry of contour, unevenness in distribution of colours and textures, border irregularity, number of colours present and diameter. RESULTS: In all, 236 melanomas were analysed. Of these, asymmetry of contour was present in 65% and 94% demonstrated unevenness in the distribution of colours and textures. The borders were regular in 12% of the melanomas and colour variegation was present in 63%. In total, 28% of the lesions were small, with a diameter less than 6 mm. This study was limited by the subjectivity of clinical lesion analysis. CONCLUSION: We put forward for your consideration a new mnemonic: 'Do UC (different, uneven, changing) the melanoma?' This mnemonic encompasses differential, analytical and comparative cognition strategies for an enhanced early detection of melanoma.
Authors: Jacqueline Dinnes; Jonathan J Deeks; Matthew J Grainge; Naomi Chuchu; Lavinia Ferrante di Ruffano; Rubeta N Matin; David R Thomson; Kai Yuen Wong; Roger Benjamin Aldridge; Rachel Abbott; Monica Fawzy; Susan E Bayliss; Yemisi Takwoingi; Clare Davenport; Kathie Godfrey; Fiona M Walter; Hywel C Williams Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2018-12-04