Table 2 Referrals and biopsy techniques chosen by 285 general practitioners for three clinical scenarios of patients presenting with suspicious melanocytic lesion
From: Choosing to biopsy or refer suspicious melanocytic lesions in general practice
Response | Scenario 1 | Scenario 2 | Scenario 3 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total Number | 285 | Â | 285 | Â | 285 | Â |
Missing choice data | 1 | Â | 0 | Â | 17 | Â |
GP chooses* to refer | 89 | 31% | 147 | 52% | 231 | 81% |
Another GP | 30 | 31% | 30 | 18% | 13 | 6% |
A dermatologist | 22 | 21% | 34 | 20% | 35 | 15% |
A general surgeon | 24 | 25% | 55 | 32% | 37 | 16% |
A plastics surgeon | 22 | 21% | 51 | 30% | 151 | 64% |
Missing referral data | 10 | Â | 10 | Â | 19 | Â |
GP chooses to biopsy | 195 | 68% | 138 | 48% | 37 | 14% |
A shave biopsy | 2 | 1% | 3 | 2% | 5 | 14% |
An incisional punch biopsy (2-4mm diameter) | 17 | 9% | 18 | 13% | 22 | 61% |
An incisional biopsy | 1 | 0.5% | 3 | 2% | 5 | 14% |
An excision biopsy 1-2 mm margins** | 97 | 50% | 72 | 53% | NA | Â |
An excision biopsy 5-10 mm margins | 52 | 27% | 13 | 9% | NA | Â |
An excision biopsy (1-2 mm margin) with primary closure | NA | Â | NA | Â | 1 | 3% |
An excision biopsy (1-2 mm margin) with a flap | NA | Â | 3 | 2% | 4 | 11% |
Other | 1 | 0.5% | 1 | 0.5% | 0 | 0% |
Missing biopsy data | 25 | 13% | 25 | 18% | 0 | 0% |
Adheres to guidelines# | 186 | 65% | 219 | 77% | 231 | 86% |