Minor skin excisions in general practice in North Queensland

Heal, Clare, Buettner, Petra, Raasch, Beverley, and Browning, Sheldon (2006) Minor skin excisions in general practice in North Queensland. Australian Family Physician, 35 (10). pp. 825-828.

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To describe the demographics of patients presenting with skin cancer to general practitioners in rural North Queensland, the sites from which skin cancers are removed, and their histology.

METHODS: Data was recorded from 1247 consecutive patients who attended for minor skin lesion excisions.

RESULTS: Close to half (46.7%) of lesions excised were skin cancers. We excised more squamous cell carcinomas than basal cell carcinomas (0.74:1). Our number needed to treat (benign or dysplastic naevi excised per melanoma) was 8.4. Mean age for excision of melanoma, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma was 55, 60.9 and 63.8 years respectively. Relative tumour density was greatest in the face, scalp and neck region for all skin cancers.

DISCUSSION: In this sample of Mackay GPs, there was a very high yield of skin cancers from all excisions. We could consider lowering our threshold for excision of pigmented lesions.

Item ID: 4133
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 0300-8495
Keywords: minor surgery; gerneral practice
Additional Information:

Copyright to Australian Family Physician. Reproduced with permission. Permission to reproduce must be sought from the publisher, The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners: www.afp.org.au

Date Deposited: 28 Oct 2009 04:12
FoR Codes: 11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1199 Other Medical and Health Sciences > 119999 Medical and Health Sciences not elsewhere classified @ 100%
SEO Codes: 92 HEALTH > 9201 Clinical Health (Organs, Diseases and Abnormal Conditions) > 920109 Infectious Diseases @ 51%
92 HEALTH > 9204 Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) > 920412 Preventive Medicine @ 49%
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