Aid to diagnosis of melanoma in primary medical care.

Abstract

To evaluate an intervention designed to reduce the number of benign melanocytic lesions excised from the skin. A randomised controlled field trial based in the medical practices of two cities. Examination of histopathological reports of 5823 melanocytic skin lesions excised over the intervention period and in the preceding six months. Medical practitioners were offered an algorithm and use of an instant developing camera. Over 50 medical practitioners, mostly in general practice, in each of two cities in tropical Queensland, Australia. Percentages of benign (neither malignant nor potentially malignant) melanocytic lesions excised during the two year intervention period. There were no significant differences in the percentages of benign lesions reported in the intervention and control cities before the intervention started (93.6% and 94.0%, respectively), but there was a significant difference afterwards (88.8% and 93.8%, P < 0.001). There was no difference in the percentage of invasive melanomas excised per month in the intervention city (3.4%) compared with control city (3.4%). Clinical diagnostic accuracy may be enhanced by offering to clinicians managing suspicious melanocytic skin lesions a simple algorithm and a camera with which to record the appearance of lesions objectively.