title: Improving diagnosis of malignant leg ulcers in the community.
abstract: Over 80% of all leg ulcer patients are cared for in the community by district and practice nurses, or by a relative who may or may not be adequately instructed or supervised. Many patients have never been referred for a specialist opinion, although their ulcers have been in existence for many years. This article discusses the current lack of community leg ulcer nurse specialists who could perform biopsies on non-healing wounds and thus reduce the amount of unnecessary hospital referrals. In turn this would speed referral times to hospital of patients with malignant leg ulcers.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Walsh
mesh_terms: D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003152:Community Health Nursing; D006801:Humans; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000451:nursing; D008545:Melanoma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*