[Malignant melanoma in a primary care pathologico-anatomical laboratory in 1988 and the freckle bus year]. / Het maligne melanoom in een eerstelijns pathologisch-anatomisch laboratorium in 1988 en het sproetenbusjaar 1989.

ABSTRACT

Our laboratory is specialized in pathology and cytology service to general practitioners (GPs). In 1988 we received approx. 1600 skin biopsies from GPs, two were melanomas. In 1989, when some 3200 biopsies were examined, the number of melanomas increased to 15. In that year a screening service was provided in the summer months using a 'freckle bus'. Only one melanoma patient was sent to the GP for further investigation through this screening service. We presume that the concomitant publicity in the mass media was more important for melanoma detection. The characteristics of the 17 melanomas detected by the GPs were in accordance with published epidemiological data. They were, however, very small with a median diameter of 5 mm. More than 70% of the melanomas had a thickness less than 1 mm. The task of the GP in detecting melanomas is discussed. In our study the GPs act in accordance with the proposed guidelines they only excise lesions with a low suspicion, the margin being at least 1 mm and all biopsies are verified histologically.