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Retrospective review of primary melanomas excised at Waikato Hospital, New Zealand, 2002–2003
Author(s) -
Barker Scott,
Oakley Amanda,
Rademaker Marius
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
australasian journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.67
H-Index - 53
eISSN - 1440-0960
pISSN - 0004-8380
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-0960.2007.00319.x
Subject(s) - medicine , retrospective cohort study , general hospital , biopsy , medical record , melanoma , breslow thickness , general surgery , dermatology , surgery , pathology , cancer , sentinel lymph node , cancer research , breast cancer
SUMMARY The aim of this study was to review and compare melanomas referred by general practitioners and melanomas identified at specialist clinics. The medical records relating to 113 primary melanomas excised at Waikato Hospital (a specialist regional base hospital) during 2002 and 2003 were reviewed retrospectively. Forty‐seven melanomas (41%) were detected when patients attended specialist clinics (mainly plastic surgery and dermatology), and 66 melanomas (59%) were specifically referred by general practitioners. The melanomas detected at specialist clinics had a lower mean Breslow thickness than those referred by general practitioners (0.57 mm compared with 1.45 mm). Patients referred by general practitioners waited a mean of 26.5 days (range 0–94 days) for first specialist assessment. Following specialist assessment, patients waited a mean of 24.2 days (0–81 days) before excision biopsy.