MELANOMA - DIFFERENCES OBSERVED BY GENERAL SURGEONS AND DERMATOLOGISTS

A retrospective review of 182 cutaneous melanomas seen at King's College Hospital from 1970 to 1987 showed that surgeons saw much thicker melanomas (median 3.64 mm) when compared to dermatologists (median 1.14 mm). Surgeons saw a greater proportion of nodular melanomas, less superficial spreading mealonomas, were less likely to make the correct clinical diagnosis, and were more likely to perform wide excisions for thin melanomas (less than 2 mm) when compared to dermatologists. General surgeons see a different group of melanoma patients compared to dermatologists and manage them differently from dermatologists working with plastic surgeons. There is a need for a combined approach for the diagnosis and management of cutaneous melanoma between specialists.