A trial looking at a new way for family doctors to check moles to see if they need to be seen by a specialist (The MoleMate UK Trial)

This trial looked at a new type of scanner to see if it could help family doctors (GPs) decide more easily which moles may be melanoma skin cancer.

If you are worried about a mole on your body, you should have it checked by your GP. Your GP may decide that you should see a skin specialist (dermatologist). But it can be very difficult for GPs to decide who may have a melanoma. If they referred everyone who came to see them to a specialist immediately, the system would get jammed and those needing urgent appointments wouldn't be able to get them.

This trial looked at a system called MoleMate. Researchers thought it may help GPs to spot melanoma more easily. If this was so, some people might not need to see a dermatologist unnecessarily. But, if it shows your GP that you do need an urgent referral, it could mean that you start treatment for melanoma sooner.

The MoleMate system is a hand held scanner, linked to a computer. It scans features in moles and takes pictures. The computer asks the doctor questions about these pictures. It then advises whether or not you should see a dermatologist.

The aim of this trial was to see if the MoleMate system helped GPs to make more appropriate referrals for suspected melanoma.