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Treatment of basal cell carcinoma by dermatologists in the United Kingdom
Author(s) -
MOTLEY R.J,
GOULD D.J,
DOUGLAS W.S,
SIMPSON N.B
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2133.1995.tb08679.x
Subject(s) - basal cell carcinoma , dermatology , medicine , cancer research , basal cell , oncology
Summary Details of presentation and treatment were obtained prospectively by questionnaire for 1366 patients with basal cell carcinoma, first attending under the care of 166 consultant dermatologists in the U.K., during a 2‐week period. One thousand five hundred and ninety‐seven tumours were reported in these patients (median age 71 years). Most were situated on the head and neck, and their median size was 9 mm. Excision was the most common treatment used in 58% of tumours, curettage and cautery was used in 24%, cryotherapy in 8%, and radiotherapy in 8%. On average, one in four tumours were referred to other specialists for treatment (range 0–70%). Very few patients (2%) were referred to a combined dermatology/radiotherapy/plastic surgery clinic, calling into question its value and availability. There was considerable variation in practices between dermatologists, demonstrating a clear need for individual, local audit of the management of this common dermatological problem. The data collected in this study form a suitable measure with which local performance may be compared.