Minor skin excisions in general practice in North Queensland.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the demographics of patients presenting with skin cancer to general practitioners in rural North Queensland, the sites from which skin cancers are removed, and their histology.

METHODS

Data was recorded from 1247 consecutive patients who attended for minor skin lesion excisions.

RESULTS

Close to half (46.7%) of lesions excised were skin cancers. We excised more squamous cell carcinomas than basal cell carcinomas (0.74:1). Our number needed to treat (benign or dysplastic naevi excised per melanoma) was 8.4. Mean age for excision of melanoma, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma was 55, 60.9 and 63.8 years respectively. Relative tumour density was greatest in the face, scalp and neck region for all skin cancers.

DISCUSSION: In this sample of Mackay GPs, there was a very high yield of skin cancers from all excisions. We could consider lowering our threshold for excision of pigmented lesions.