title: A possible additional diagnostic tool for cutaneous melanoma.
abstract: The rise in incidence of malignant melanoma and the dismal prognosis of late detection emphasize the need for early detection and recognition of the disease. The well-known ABCD method for detection of melanoma has recently been revised by adding an "E" for changes in size, shape, color, crusting, itching, bleeding, and erythema. In an observational study, 8 of 14 (57%) melanoma patients exhibited a particular reddish hue to the skin adjacent to the melanoma, with no distinguishable borders. In another study, vascular endothelial growth factor was positive in biopsy specimens from 3 of 6 (50%) patients with erythema and in 4 of 7 (57%) patients without erythema. Platelet-derived growth factor was positive in all 6 (100%) of the patients with erythema and in 4 of the 7 (57%) without erythema. This erythema can help alert the clinician to the presence of malignant melanoma and serve as a prognostic factor or an indicator of the efficacy of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Tel Aviv-Sourasky Medical Center and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. derma@tasmc.health.gov.il
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brenner
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mashiah
mesh_terms: D004890:Erythema / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*