title: Accuracy in the clinical diagnosis and pattern of malignant melanoma at a dermatological clinic.
abstract: The diagnostic pattern of malignant melanoma and clinical suspicion rate has been investigated at a dermatological university clinic. Of 174 histologically proven malignant melanomas, 60 (34%) were not clinically suspected as melanomas. The accuracy of clinical diagnosis increased with level of experience. Physicians with < 1 year experience in dermatology were able to detect malignant melanoma as the first diagnosis in 31% of the cases in contrast to 63% for those with > 10 years experience. Of 50 patients immediately referred from the dermatologic clinic to surgery departments, 12 did not have melanoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lindelöf
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hedblad
mesh_terms: D003880:Dermatology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004416:Dysplastic Nevus Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006748:Hospital Departments; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D017492:Keratosis, Seborrheic / Q000175:diagnosis; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D009506:Nevus / Q000175:diagnosis; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology