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In reply

We thank Drs Weinstock and Cohn for their comments on our article. The ABCDs of melanoma were developed by our group in 1985 when we perceived a significant problem.¹ It was fairly easy to diagnose melanoma when it was in an advanced state. However, the diagnosis of early melanoma was much more problematic. Therefore, the reason that the ABCD criteria were developed was to detect melanoma in its earliest (and most effectively treated) state. Many of the subsequent suggestions to alter this system have not been adopted (including many of those suggested by Weinstock) because they were not relevant toward enhancing early diagnosis.

We believe that the diagnosis of melanoma is evolving in a positive way. The addition of E to the acronym brings new emphasis to the importance of changing lesions. It not only broadens the ability of the acronym to enhance the clinical detection of early . . . [Full Text of this Article]

AUTHOR INFORMATION
Darrell S. Rigel, MD; Robert J. Friedman, MD; Alfred W. Kopf, MD; David Polsky, MD

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