Cutting it close: Five-year retrospective review of melanoma guideline adherence in Northern British Columbia: Primary cutaneous melanoma is a potentially life-threatening disease treated primarily by surgical excision. Adherence to expert consensus guidelines likely helps physicians optimize patient outcomes

This article presents a retrospective review of melanoma guideline adherence in Northern British Columbia. The study found that adherence rates for initial biopsies and wide local excisions of melanoma were 44.3% and 53.6% respectively. Elliptical biopsies were more likely to follow recommendations compared to punch biopsies. The study identified deviations from published standards and emphasized the need for a melanoma database and standardized reporting in the region. The article suggests that there are barriers to the uptake of melanoma guidelines and recommends that physicians strive to meet these guidelines to improve patient outcomes. Additionally, the article discusses the adherence to excisional margin guidelines for wide local excisions of melanoma and highlights the importance of adhering to guidelines for melanoma patients. The authors recommend further surgical training and the standardization of melanoma reports and procedures to improve patient outcomes. [Extracted from the article]