The “Melanoma Slide Club” actually started as the UK melanoma slide group in the early 1980’s by Doctor James Briggs, Consultant Histopathologist based in Bristol. His idea was to create group to offer some help with difficult cases. He discussed the idea with Dr Rona McKee, who supported the idea. Membership to the group was based on open expressions of interest and quickly grew. The numbers were limited to 20 to 30 by the cutting of slides that were circulated. Regular meetings were organised to discuss the cases. Dr Briggs invigilated the first 100 cases after which he asked for expressions of interest for a successor.
Doctor Martin Cook (now Professor) took over around case 100. The club preceded very much in the same way as before. He invited eminent dermatopathologists from other countries) and analysed cases according to diagnostic responses. By then, the club had approximately 30 UK and 6 international members.
Professor Cook completed the second 200 cases and then asked for expressions of interest for a successor. As there were no expressions of interest, he invited a couple of colleagues to take on the role.
Dr Richard Carr accepted the invitation after Dr Alan Evans supported his nomination. Under Dr Carr’s leadership, membership has expanded to over 325 members, following a strategic alliance with the NSDEQA. There are also more than 15 international members – contributors.
Cases are selected from day to day sign-out’s and some second opinion cases. Case selection is intended to reflect the wide spectrum of difficult cases encountered in routine sign-out. The format of the club allows for an informative discussion over differential diagnosis, diagnostic pitfalls, ancillary tests and pragmatic reporting, benefiting from the opinion of experts in the field.
We are grateful to Dr Richard Carr for his generosity, allowing access, to this valuable educational material that he has curated over time, to the wider Dermatopathology community through the BSD website.
Logged in members can view some of the Melanoma Slide Club cases listed below.
Dr Carr qualified in 1991 from Sheffield University Medical School and trained in cellular pathology in Birmingham and the South East Thames Regional Rotation culminating in 4 years as a Clinical Lecturer at St Thomas’ Hospital, London. Dr Carr previously participated in an international study funded by the National Institutes of Health in to the pathology of cerebral malaria.
Dr Carr developed his interest in Dermatopathology training with world renowned experts Dr Phillip H. McKee and Dr Eduardo Calonje at St Thomas’ hospital and the St John’s Institute of Dermatology. Dr Carr has the Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath) Diploma in Dermatopathology (set at expert referral level) and became an examiner for the diploma in 2005. Dr Carr receives cases for expert opinions from other histopathologists throughout the UK. Dr Carr receives cases for expert opinions from other histopathologists throughout the UK
Dr Carr has authored/co-authored around 80 published papers and lectures regionally, nationally and internationally in dermatopathology. Dr Carr also has active research interests in dermatopathology and laboratory organisation in cellular pathology and is a member of the RCPath working group for workload and job planning in cellular pathology.
Dr Carr organises a slide of club of leading experts in the field of melanocytic pathology (allied with the National Dermatopathology EQA scheme), is committed to post-graduate teaching and receives regular local, national and international visitors to share his extensive slide collection. Dr Carr participates in the e-learning site, Dermpathpro, providing regular cases for the popular “Spot Diagnosis” section.
Current interests include walking the dog with the family, golf and making cider.