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Notable Notes
December 2013

An Unusual Pigmented Lesion: What Is Your Diagnosis?

Author Affiliations
  • 1Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
JAMA Dermatol. 2013;149(12):1376. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2013.4312

During the course of a full skin examination, a 57-year-old white woman with a history of dysplastic nevus syndrome and basal cell carcinoma was found to have a distinct pigmented lesion on her chest.

The lesion, which occurred on a background of sun damage and lentigines, was noted to be asymmetric, possess irregular borders, demonstrate multiple colors, and extend well over 6 mm in greatest diameter (ABCD sign). The lesion was unlike any other on the patient’s skin surface (ugly duckling sign).

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