Skip to main content
Annals of The Royal College of Surgeons of England logoLink to Annals of The Royal College of Surgeons of England
. 1991 Jul;73(4):248–252.

Cutaneous malignant melanoma: audit of the diagnostic process.

M P Dunkley 1, A M Morris 1
PMCID: PMC2499432  PMID: 1863047

Abstract

The results of a study of the diagnostic process in 202 cutaneous malignant melanomas over a 5-year period in one region are presented. Patient delay of more than 3 months was noted in at least 60% of cases, and delay after presentation was identified in 21% of the case histories. In 12% of the cases an opportunity for earlier diagnosis had been missed. The factors leading to delay in diagnosis are highlighted and the need for the dissemination of information relating to the early stages of the disease is emphasised.

Full text

PDF
250

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Breslow A. Thickness, cross-sectional areas and depth of invasion in the prognosis of cutaneous melanoma. Ann Surg. 1970 Nov;172(5):902–908. doi: 10.1097/00000658-197011000-00017. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Cassileth B. R., Clark W. H., Jr, Heiberger R. M., March V., Tenaglia A. Relationship between patients' early recognition of melanoma and depth of invasion. Cancer. 1982 Jan 1;49(1):198–200. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(19820101)49:1<198::aid-cncr2820490138>3.0.co;2-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Doherty V. R., MacKie R. M. Experience of a public education programme on early detection of cutaneous malignant melanoma. BMJ. 1988 Aug 6;297(6645):388–391. doi: 10.1136/bmj.297.6645.388. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Doherty V. R., MacKie R. M. Reasons for poor prognosis in British patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1986 Apr 12;292(6526):987–989. doi: 10.1136/bmj.292.6526.987. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Gordon L. G., Lowry W. S. Missed malignant melanomas. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1986 Jun 7;292(6534):1524–1525. doi: 10.1136/bmj.292.6534.1524-a. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Jensen O. M., Bolander A. M. Trends in malignant melanoma of the skin. World Health Stat Q. 1980;33(1):2–26. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Leppard B., Sanderson K. V., Behan F. Subungual malignant melanoma: difficulty in diagnosis. Br Med J. 1974 Feb 23;1(5903):310–312. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.5903.310. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Monk B. E., Clement M. I., Pembroke A. C., du Vivier A. The incidental malignant melanoma. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1983 Aug 13;287(6390):485–486. doi: 10.1136/bmj.287.6390.485. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Monk B. E., Neill S. M., du Vivier A. W. Missed malignant melanomas. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1986 Apr 12;292(6526):1000–1001. doi: 10.1136/bmj.292.6526.1000. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Swerdlow A. J. Incidence of malignant melanoma of the skin in England and Wales and its relationship to sunshine. Br Med J. 1979 Nov 24;2(6201):1324–1327. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.6201.1324. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Temoshok L., DiClemente R. J., Sweet D. M., Blois M. S., Sagebiel R. W. Factors related to patient delay in seeking medical attention for cutaneous malignant melanoma. Cancer. 1984 Dec 15;54(12):3048–3053. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(19841215)54:12<3048::aid-cncr2820541239>3.0.co;2-m. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Annals of The Royal College of Surgeons of England are provided here courtesy of The Royal College of Surgeons of England

RESOURCES