Polaroid photographic referral for skin cancer - A potentially useful method of reducing time to surgery

A prospective trial was conducted on twenty-five patients referred by derma tologists during 1998 using a referral letter and an accompanying polaroid photograph for prospective plastic surgical management of skin cancers. Usi ng the description and the photograph, suitable patients were given dates f or operation without requiring aplastic surgery out-patient clinic appointm ent. This enabled, not only a saving in the cost of an out-patient appointm ent, but a significant reduction in waiting time to surgery.