title: General practice consultations involving pigmented naevi presented for assessment of malignancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To outline the initial general practice care of pigmented naevi presented for assessment of malignancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty six general practitioners completed a brief record for each patient presenting a pigmented skin lesion for assessment of malignancy; records were maintained prospectively for periods over October 1988 to April 1989. 2614 records were received.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Numbers of consultations increased sharply with age to peaks at 15-19 for men and 30-44 for women; at ages 20 44 the sex ratio was 1.9 (F/M). Lesions were usually typical (51%) or atypical (24%) moles. 22% of patients were biopsied by the practitioner and 8% were referred, to dermatologists (4%) or surgeons (4%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The age pattern of presentations is younger than is optimal. General practitioners' decisions and actions are of crucial importance in the effective functioning of melanoma early detection programmes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago Medical School, Dunedin.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cooke
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: McNoe
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Spears
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009520:New Zealand; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012744:Sex Ratio; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*