A pigmented lesion clinic: analysis of the first year's 1055 patients

• Published in: British journal of plastic surgery Vol. 48; no. 4; pp. 247 - 251
• Main Authors: Kirkpatrick, J.J.R., Taggart, I., Rigby, H.S., Townsend, P.L.G.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.06.1995; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Cancer Care Facilities - organization & administration; Dermatology; Dysplastic Nevus Syndrome - diagnosis; Humans; Mass Screening; Medical sciences; Melanoma - prevention & control; Outpatient Clinics, Hospital - organization & administration; Patient Satisfaction; Pigmentary diseases of the skin; Skin Neoplasms - prevention & control; Human; Skin disease; Review; Lesion; Pigmentation; Retrospective
• ISSN: 0007-1226; 1465-3087
• DOI: 10.1016/0007-1226(95)90011-X

The Pigmented Lesion Clinic (PLC) at Frenchay Hospital was started in January 1993 to deal rapidly and effectively with a growing number of referrals of suspicious pigmented lesions. Its objectives were to offer expert assessment and either reassurance or excision at the first PLC following referral by the patient's general practitioner. During 1993, 1055 patients were seen in 37 PLCs and 357 excision biopsies were performed. We have compared the Breslow thicknesses of malignant melanomas diagnosed from the PLCs with those of all other (non-PLC) malignant melanomas referred to our unit over the same period. We discuss the development and results of the first year of our PLC and the advantages it confers.