title: Utility of lesion diameter in the clinical diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, New York University School of Medicine, 550 First Ave, Room H-100, New York, NY 10016, USA.
authors.forename: Naheed R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Abbasi
authors.forename: Molly
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yancovitz
authors.forename: Dina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gutkowicz-Krusin
authors.forename: Katherine S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Panageas
authors.forename: Martin C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Mihm
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Googe
authors.forename: Roy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Prieto
authors.forename: Iman
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Osman
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: Darrell S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Rigel
authors.forename: Alfred W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Kopf
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Polsky
mesh_terms: 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