Malignant melanoma

Patient presentation

Diagnostic Tips - ABCDE

• Asymmetry
• Border irregularity - the edges are ragged, blurred or notched
• Colour - pigmentation is not uniform, shades of brown and black are present, mottled appearance with dashes of red, white and blue
• Diameter >6mm
• Evolution - history of change in size, shape, surface, colour or symptoms

Referral Tips

• Urgent referral 
• Please state size and location of lesion
• Please photograph lesion
• Biopsy or attempted excision should not be carried out in primary care