Info
Atypical moles (the ABCDE rule)
Diagnosis
What it means
Moles that change shape, color or size and may indicate a melanoma. The ABCDE rule helps with self-checks: Asymmetry, irregular Border, uneven Color, Diameter over 6 mm, Evolution over time.
Related terms
The terms below often appear alongside this one. Each definition is right here, so you do not have to look elsewhere.
- Melanoma
- A type of cancer that starts in the melanocytes, the cells that produce the skin's pigment. It is a form of skin cancer with the potential to spread quickly if it is not detected and treated in time.
- AFP (alpha-fetoprotein)
- A tumor marker useful especially for liver cancer and certain testicular or ovarian tumors. It is measured in the blood for diagnosis, monitoring treatment and detecting a recurrence.
- ALK-positive
- A gene rearrangement found in a subset of lung cancers, more common in non-smoking or younger patients. ALK-positive tumors often respond very well to specific targeted therapies, different from standard chemotherapy.
Other terms in “Diagnosis”
Glossary definitions are written for patients by the OncoDots team and go through internal medical review. They explain terms; they do not establish a diagnosis and do not recommend a treatment.