Final answer:
A growth analyzed by a doctor could be diagnosed as benign (non-cancerous), or malignant (cancerous), or the diagnosis can be unknown or inconclusive. The ABCDE criteria help in identifying potential early-stage melanoma.
Step-by-step explanation:
When determining the nature of a strange growth, doctors perform diagnostic tests. The growth might be classified as benign, which means it does not invade other tissues, is not cancerous, and generally stops growing by itself. A malignant growth, on the other hand, indicates that the neoplasm is cancerous, as it has no limitations on growth, may invade and damage neighboring tissues, and can form metastases. If a diagnosis cannot confirm the nature of the tumor, it might be labeled as unknown or inconclusive. To identify early-stage melanoma, the ABCDE criteria are used: Asymmetry, Borders, Color, Diameter, and Evolving characteristics of a mole. Nodular melanoma has additional signs such as Elevated, Firm, and Growing.