What characteristic is commonly associated with malignant melanoma?

Malignant melanoma is commonly associated with asymmetry in its appearance. This characteristic is part of the "ABCD" rule used in identifying potential melanomas: A for asymmetry, B for irregular borders, C for color variation, and D for diameter greater than 6 mm. In a melanoma, one half of the mole or growth does not match the other half in shape, color, or size, which is a critical feature that raises suspicion of malignancy.

The other choices represent characteristics of different types of skin lesions or cancers. Pearly nodules are typically associated with basal cell carcinoma, which is the most common form of skin cancer. Scaly red papules can indicate squamous cell carcinoma or actinic keratosis, conditions that present differently from melanoma. Rough, flesh-colored patches may be seen in conditions like psoriasis or other benign lesions and do not specifically indicate melanoma’s malignant nature. Understanding these characteristics helps in accurate diagnosis and timely intervention for skin lesions.