Skin cancer excision performance in Scottish primary and secondary care: a retrospective analysis

Abstract

GPs in east and south-east Scotland excise a number of skin cancers including malignant melanoma (MM), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and high-risk BCC. Despite removing smaller lesions, less commonly on difficult surgical sites of the head and neck, GP excision rates are lower for all skin cancers, and statistically inferior for BCC, compared with secondary care, supporting the development of guidelines in Scotland similar to those in other UK regions. Poorer GP excision rates may have serious consequences for patients with high-risk lesions.