Diagnostic discord with melanoma

✍ Scribed by Slater, D. N.

• Book ID: 101222283
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1998
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 16 KB
• Volume: 184
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0022-3417
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1096-9896(199801)184:1<115::aid-path9>3.0.co;2-p

✦ Synopsis

ably discusses numerous important issues and problems surrounding the quality of diagnoses of malignant melanoma. I wholeheartedly agree with Dr Cook that these should be addressed and resolved on a national basis. Sadly, however, Dr Cook makes no mention of the unofficial 'medico-political hierarchy of cancer'. Skin cancer, including melanoma, received a rightful place in the health of the nation. Since that time, however, melanoma has slipped in the medico-political cancer league table. Currently, unless the cancer in question belongs to a national screening programme or is on a Calman accreditation list, health commissioners show remarkably little interest. To achieve success in any of Dr Cook's suggestions, melanoma requires urgent reinstatement as a medicopolitically important cancer. Unfortunately, however, as with all aspects of health care, dermatologists will then be in direct competition with other colleagues attempting to propagate interests in their own specialist field of cancer.