What investigations are recommended before referring a patient with suspected melanoma?

Before referring a patient with suspected melanoma, investigations should include assessment using dermoscopy by trained healthcare professionals ³.

If dermoscopy suggests melanoma, a biopsy should be performed to confirm the diagnosis, and the pathology report should be sent with the referral ¹, ².

For atypical melanocytic lesions that do not need immediate excision, baseline photography (preferably dermoscopic) should be used, and the lesion should be reviewed after 3 months to monitor for early signs of melanoma ³.

In cases where genetic testing may influence management, BRAF analysis of melanoma tissue samples can be considered, especially for potential clinical trial candidates ³.

Imaging or sentinel lymph node biopsy should not be routinely performed before referral unless there are specific indications such as suspected metastases or staging requirements ³.