title: Treatment of basal cell carcinoma by dermatologists in the United Kingdom. British Association of Dermatologists Audit Subcommittee and the British Society for Dermatological Surgery.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, U.K.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Motley
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Gould
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Douglas
authors.forename: N B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Simpson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D017679:Cryotherapy; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D013518:Surgery, Plastic; D006113:United Kingdom