A retrospective study of the referral patterns to a vulval clinic: highlighting educational needs in this subspecialty.

A retrospective study of the referral patterns to a specialist vulval clinic was performed. A total of 200 clinical records were reviewed of new patients seen between January 2004 and June 2005. A provisional diagnosis was stated in 45.5% of referrals, of which 27.5% had the diagnosis changed at the clinic. The majority of referrals were from general practitioners (GPs) (77%) and smaller proportions from gynaecologists (11%), dermatologists (9%) and others (3%). The most common conditions seen were lichen sclerosus (39%), eczema/lichen simplex (30.5%), lichen planus (11.5%), pain syndromes (10.5%) and others (8.5%). Lichen sclerosus was accurately diagnosed in 54.5% of referrals but for eczema/lichen simplex it was only recognised in 11.5% of referrals. Nine cases of lichen sclerosus had been referred by gynaecologists after histological confirmation, for advice on management. Education of vulval diseases to non-specialists should focus on conditions that they are most likely to encounter and find difficult to manage. This study illustrates an effective method to define what the local teaching requirements are.