title: The Victorian Melanoma Service: A 20-year review of an Australian multidisciplinary cancer service.
abstract: Australia has the highest incidence and mortality rates for melanoma in the world. The Victorian Melanoma Service began operation in 1994 as one of the first multidisciplinary melanoma clinics in Victoria. We conducted a review of the Victorian Melanoma Service database of 6721 patients and present the trends observed in a statewide referral centre in Australia. Our results highlight the importance of multidisciplinary care of melanoma patients and emphasise the significance of histological reviews and dermatological skin assessments for the detection of synchronous melanoma.
authors.affiliation: Victorian Melanoma Service, Alfred Hospital, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Rowena E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Meani
authors.affiliation: Victorian Melanoma Service, Alfred Hospital, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomical Pathology, Alfred Hospital, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Catriona
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McLean
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Faciomaxillary Surgery, Alfred Hospital, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haydon
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Alfred Hospital, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.affiliation: Victorian Melanoma Service, Alfred Hospital, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kelly
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002173:Cancer Care Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016208:Databases, Factual; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Victorian Melanoma Service; cancer service; clinical trial; melanoma; melanoma clinic; multidisciplinary service; multidisciplinary team; pathology