Clinical QuickieDermatology
Skin Cancer Warning Signs
Know what not to watch.
ABCDE is a memory aid, not the whole exam
Asymmetry, border irregularity, color variation, diameter, and especially evolution help identify suspicious pigmented lesions.
Use the ugly-duckling sign
A lesion that looks different from the patient's other nevi deserves attention even if it is small.
BCC and SCC look different
Pearly/nonhealing lesions suggest BCC; scaly, keratotic, ulcerated, or rapidly growing lesions can suggest SCC.
Suspicious lesions need diagnosis, not prolonged empiric treatment
Changing, bleeding, nonhealing, nodular, acral, nail-unit, mucosal, or otherwise concerning lesions should be biopsied or referred appropriately.
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