'Do UC the melanoma?' Recognising the importance of different lesions displaying unevenness or having a history of change for early melanoma detection Journal Article


Authors: Yagerman, S. E.; Chen, L.; Jaimes, N.; Dusza, S. W.; Halpern, A. C.; Marghoob, A.
Article Title: 'Do UC the melanoma?' Recognising the importance of different lesions displaying unevenness or having a history of change for early melanoma detection
Abstract: 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. © 2014 The Australasian College of Dermatologists.
Keywords: adult; middle aged; major clinical study; cancer diagnosis; melanoma; metastasis; skin defect; morphology; early diagnosis; early detection; skin color; abcd; change; human; male; female; article; ugly duckling; unevenness
Journal Title: Australasian Journal of Dermatology
Volume: 55
Issue: 2
ISSN: 0004-8380
Publisher: Wiley Blackwell  
Date Published: 2014-05-01
Start Page: 119
End Page: 124
Language: English
DOI: 10.1111/ajd.12143
PROVIDER: scopus
PUBMED: 24548383
DOI/URL:
Notes: Australas. J. Dermatol. -- Export Date: 2 June 2014 -- CODEN: AJDEB -- Source: Scopus
Altmetric
Citation Impact
BMJ Impact Analytics
MSK Authors
  1. Allan C Halpern
    398 Halpern
  2. Stephen Dusza
    292 Dusza
  3. Ashfaq A Marghoob
    537 Marghoob
  4. Lucy Lugun Chen
    11 Chen
Related MSK Work