title: Communicating the location of potential skin neoplasms for excision between the referring and the operating doctor--an audit of skin lesion referrals in Whanganui, New Zealand.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The importance of correctly defining the location of potential skin cancer when surgical treatment may be required is self-evident. Clear communication is essential if the professional diagnosing potential skin cancer is not the same professional providing treatment. We aimed to assess the nature of the localising information provided in referrals to the local anaesthetic skin lesion theatre in our institution.
  
  
  METHODS
  Information localising target lesions for new patients seen in our local anaesthetic skin excision theatre was recorded during a 2-month period April to May 2012 inclusive
  
  
  RESULTS
  100 patients were seen in our skin excision theatre during the study period; 16 patients were not able to identify the target skin lesion at the time they entered the operating theatre. The target lesion could not be determined from the referral text in 30/100 cases. Diagrams were provided in 19/100 cases. Photographs were provided in 3/100 cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pictorial and photographic means of communicating the location of suspicious lesions are under-utilised in our service. Relying on the patient or the referral text to correctly identify the lesion leaves considerable room for error. We suggest that photographic information for skin lesion referrals is adopted as a minimum standard.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Whanganui Hospital, 100 Heads Road, Whanganui 4501, New Zealand. welshfm@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Fraser
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Welsh
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bullen
authors.forename: Semisi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aiono
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D055815:Young Adult