Oregon Esthetician State Board

What are the ABCDE's of melanoma detection?

1. Asymmetry, Border, Color, Diameter, Evolving

2. Area, Border, Color, Development, Evolution

3. Asymmetry, Balance, Color, Diameter, Enlargement

4. Asymmetry, Border, Change, Diameter, Evolution

The correct answer is: Asymmetry, Border, Color, Diameter, Evolving

The ABCDE's of melanoma detection are a widely recognized mnemonic used by healthcare professionals to identify potential indicators of melanoma, which is a type of skin cancer. The first element, asymmetry, refers to the shape of the mole or spot; if one half does not match the other, it may be a warning sign. The border is critical; irregular, scalloped, or poorly defined edges can indicate melanoma. Color variation also plays a significant role; moles that are not uniform in color or have multiple shades can be concerning. The diameter involves assessing whether the mole is larger than 6mm (about the size of a pencil eraser), which can be a red flag, and evolving refers to any changes in the mole over time, such as size, shape, color, or elevation. This combination effectively aids in the early identification and diagnosis of melanoma, allowing for timely intervention and treatment. Other options provided do not maintain the correct terminology or have discrepancies that render them less effective for this purpose, making the first option the most accurate and widely used in clinical practice.