A patient tells the nurse that he has noticed that one of his moles has started to burn and bleed. The nurse should be concerned with which additional finding?
Explanation & Rationale
hoice A reason: Symmetry is a benign mole feature; asymmetry is concerning for melanoma. Burning and bleeding with irregular edges raise cancer risk, so symmetry is not the concerning finding here. Choice B reason: Irregular edges, combined with burning and bleeding, are concerning for melanoma, per the ABCDE criteria (Asymmetry, Border irregularity). This suggests malignancy, making it the correct additional finding to worry about. Choice C reason: Diameter less than 6 mm is less concerning; melanomas are often >6 mm. Irregular edges with symptoms are more indicative of cancer, so this is not the priority finding. Choice D reason: Consistent color is benign; variegated colors suggest malignancy. Irregular edges with burning/bleeding are more alarming, so consistent color is incorrect for the concerning finding.