A PIGMENTED LESION CLINIC - ANALYSIS OF THE FIRST YEARS 1055 PATIENTS

The Pigmented Lesion Clinic(PLC) at Frenchay Hospital was started in J anuary 1993 to deaf rapidly and effectively with a growing number of r eferrals of suspicious pigmented lesions. Its objectives were to offer expert assessment and either reassurance or excision at the first PLC following referral by the patient's general practitioner. During 1993 , 1055 patients were seen in 37 PLCs and 357 excision biopsies were pe rformed. We have compared the Breslow thicknesses of malignant melanom as diagnosed from the PLCs with those of all other (non-PLC) malignant melanomas referred to our unit over the same period. We discuss the d evelopment and results of the first year of our PLC and the advantages it confers.