Effect of general practitioner contract on referral of specimens for histological examination.

malignancies (six in 1989 and 20 in 1990) and that many of these are not suspected to be malignant before excision.Controversy exists about whether general practitioners should remove malignant lesions.Paver suggests that if the diagnosis is uncertain, there is a facial lesion, or malignant melanoma is suspected the patient should be referred to a consultant.'However, if there are long waiting times for consultant appoint- ments there is strong argument for family doctors doing the surgery as early excision of skin malignancy is more likely to cure.Whether removing malignant lesions or not it is imperative that general practitioners who wish to undertake minor surgery are adequately trained and that all biopsy specimens are submitted for histological examination.