THE PREVALENCE AND ACCURACY OF DIAGNOSIS OF NON‐MELANOTIC SKIN CANCER IN VICTORIA*

Abstract

S ummary Surveys of Victorian dermatologists and pathologists were undertaken to determine the number of patients attending medical practitioners with non‐melanotic skin cancers and solar keratoses. Results suggest that at least 1,000 patients per week are attending for diagnosis and treatment. Accuracy of clinical diagnosis studies suggest that the correct diagnosis of these tumours isbeing made clinically in approximately 70% of cases by experienced clinicians. It is suggested that histology be obtained in all lesions in which a clinical diagnosis of skin cancer is considered. The incidence of squamous cell carcinoma compared to that of basal cell carcinoma is seen to rise where histological examination is performed.