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Body Site Distribution Of Skin Cancer, Pre-Malignant And Common Benign Pigmented Lesions Excised In General Practice, Philippa H. Youl, Monika Janda, Joanne F. Aitken, Chris B. Del Mar, David C. Whiteman, Peter D. Baade

Christopher Del Mar

Background: Concern about skin cancer is a common reason for people from predominantly fair-skinned populations present to primary care doctors. Objectives: To examine the frequency and body site distribution of malignant, pre-malignant and benign pigmented skin lesions excised in primary care. Methods: This prospective study conducted in Queensland, Australia, included 154 primary care doctors. For all excised or biopsied lesions, doctors recorded the patient’s age and sex, body site, level of patient pressure to excise, and the clinical diagnosis. Histological confirmation was obtained through pathology laboratories. Results: Of 9,650 skin lesions, 57.7% were excised in men and 75.0% excised in …