Utility of lesion diameter in the clinical diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the utility of the current diameter criterion of larger than 6 mm of the ABCDE acronym for the early diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma.


METHODS
Cohort study.


METHODS
Dermatology hospital-based clinics and community practice offices. Patients A total of 1323 patients undergoing skin biopsies of 1657 pigmented lesions suggestive of melanoma.


METHODS
The maximum lesion dimension (diameter) of each skin lesion was calculated before biopsy using a novel computerized skin imaging system.


RESULTS
Of 1657 biopsied lesions, 853 (51.5%) were 6 mm or smaller in diameter. Invasive melanomas were diagnosed in 13 of 853 lesions (1.5%) that were 6 mm or smaller in diameter and in 41 of 804 lesions (5.1%) that were larger than 6 mm in diameter. In situ melanomas were diagnosed in 22 of 853 lesions (2.6%) that were 6 mm or smaller in diameter and in 62 of 804 lesions (7.7%) that were larger than 6 mm in diameter. Conclusion The diameter guideline of larger than 6 mm provides a useful parameter for physicians and should continue to be used in combination with the A, B, C, and E criteria previously established in the selection of atypical lesions for skin biopsy.
Abbasi
Naheed R
NR
Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, New York University School of Medicine, 550 First Ave, Room H-100, New York, NY 10016, USA.
Yancovitz
Molly
M
Gutkowicz-Krusin
Dina
D
Panageas
Katherine S
KS
Mihm
Martin C
MC
Googe
Paul
P
King
Roy
R
Prieto
Victor
V
Osman
Iman
I
Friedman
Robert J
RJ
Rigel
Darrell S
DS
Kopf
Alfred W
AW
Polsky
David
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001185:Artificial Intelligence; D001706:Biopsy; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D046169:Dermoscopy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004416:Dysplastic Nevus Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D007642:Keratosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012372:ROC Curve; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology