title: Primary excision of cutaneous melanoma: does the location of excision matter.
abstract: Melanoma is diagnosed more quickly if primarily excised in primary care, but current guidelines discourage this. The reports of all melanomas excised in north-east Scotland between 1991 and 2007 were analysed for adequacy of excision. Reports were analysed blinded as to source. Of primary biopsies performed in primary care, 72.5% were reported as completely excised, compared with 69.7% of those performed in secondary care (P<0.612). The difference remained non-significant following adjustment for important confounders.
authors.affiliation: Centre of Academic Primary Care, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK. p.murchie@abdn.ac.uk
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Murchie
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sinclair
authors.forename: Amanda J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000592:standards*; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013511:Minor Surgical Procedures / Q000592:standards*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*