ABCDE
Abbreviation with 2 meanings
| Stands for | Airway, breathing, circulation, disability, exposure |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 2 |
| Categories | Medical |
ABCDE has two meanings. It stands for Airway, breathing, circulation, disability, exposure (emergency medicine) or Asymmetry, Border, Color, Diameter, Evolving (melanoma warning signs) (dermatology).
Meanings of ABCDE at a glance
| # | ABCDE stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Airway, breathing, circulation, disability, exposure | Medical › Emergency Medicine |
| 2 | Asymmetry, Border, Color, Diameter, Evolving (melanoma warning signs) | Medical › Dermatology |
1. Airway, breathing, circulation, disability, exposure
Medical · Emergency Medicine Abbreviations
Structured primary survey used in trauma and critically ill patients to find and treat life threats in order. Disability refers to neurological status and exposure to fully undressing the patient while preventing hypothermia.
Example: ABCDE: airway clear, RR 28, BP 84/50, GCS 13, exposure reveals open femur fracture.
Central to ATLS and the UK Resuscitation Council approach. Each problem is treated as soon as found before moving on. In dermatology ABCDE is a different mnemonic for melanoma features.
2. Asymmetry, Border, Color, Diameter, Evolving (melanoma warning signs)
Medical · Dermatology Abbreviations
Mnemonic for features suggesting a mole may be melanoma: Asymmetry, irregular Border, uneven Color, Diameter larger than 6 mm and Evolving size, shape or color. It is widely used in public skin cancer education and self-examination.
Example: Mole on calf meets 3 ABCDE criteria (asymmetric, two colors, enlarging); excisional biopsy today.
The ABCD rule was introduced by dermatologists at New York University in 1985, and "E" for evolving was added in 2004. Some melanomas, especially nodular and amelanotic types, do not fit the rule. Dermatologists also use the "ugly duckling sign": a mole that looks different from a person's other moles.
Related abbreviations
More emergency medicine abbreviations
- ABCs – Airway, breathing, circulation
- ACEP – American College of Emergency Physicians
- ACLS – Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support
- AD – Advance directive
- ALS – Advanced life support
- AMA – Against medical advice
- AMLS – Advanced Medical Life Support
- AND – Allow natural death
See all 97 emergency medicine abbreviations →
More dermatology abbreviations
- AA – Alopecia areata
- ACD – Allergic contact dermatitis
- AGA – Androgenetic alopecia
- AGEP – Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis
- AK – Actinic keratosis
- BCC – Basal cell carcinoma
- BP – Bullous pemphigoid
- CSU – Chronic spontaneous urticaria
See all 52 dermatology abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.