title: Polaroid photographic referral for skin cancer--a potentially useful method of reducing time to surgery.
abstract: A prospective trial was conducted on twenty-five patients referred by dermatologists during 1998 using a referral letter and an accompanying polaroid photograph for prospective plastic surgical management of skin cancers. Using the description and the photograph, suitable patients were given dates for operation without requiring a plastic surgery out-patient clinic appointment. This enabled, not only a saving in the cost of an out-patient appointment, but a significant reduction in waiting time to surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, St John's Hospital, Livingston, West Lothian.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: McGregor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007642:Keratosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D017492:Keratosis, Seborrheic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D010781:Photography; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012606:Scotland; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013518:Surgery, Plastic; D013997:Time Factors; D014850:Waiting Lists