Authors' response

摘要

We disagree with the correspondents' comment that, since the mean thickness in both the primary and secondary care groups was <=1mm, mortality and morbidity are not particularly relevant endpoints. We presented median and not mean values in our paper. In fact, over 40% of the lesions in each group of our study had a Breslow thickness >1mm. Furthermore, patients can die from melanoma irrespective of the Breslow thickness of the primary lesion, so mortality was the most appropriate primary outcome for ourstudy. Similarly, morbidity, in this case, subsequent hospital attendances, must be included in any analysis where questions of surgical competence are being addressed.