Did COVID-19 lockdown delay actually worsen melanoma prognosis?
An. bras. dermatol
;
98(2): 176-180, March.-Apr. 2023. tab, graf
Article
in English
|
LILACS-Express
| LILACS
| ID: biblio-1429657
ABSTRACT
Abstract Background:
The COVID-19 lockdown possibly meant a delay in the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and therefore, worsening its prognosis. This unique situation of diagnosis deferral is an exceptional opportunity to investigate melanoma biology.Objectives:
To evaluate the immediate and mid-term impact of diagnosis delay on melanoma.Methods:
A retrospective observational study of melanoma diagnosed between March 14th 2019 and March 13th 2021. We compared the characteristics of melanomas diagnosed during the first 6-month period after the lockdown instauration and a second period after recovery of normal activity with the same periods of the previous year, respectively.Results:
A total of 119 melanomas were diagnosed. There were no differences in age, sex, incidence, location, presence of ulceration or mitoses, and in situ/invasive melanoma rate (p > 0.05). After the recovery of the normal activity, Breslow thickness increased in comparison with the previous year (2.4 vs 1.9 mm, p < 0.05) resulting in a significant upstaging according to the AJCC 8th ed. (p < 0.05). Studylimitations:
The main limitation is that this is a single-center study.Conclusions:
The COVID-19 lockdown implied a diagnosis delay leading to a mid-term increase in Breslow thickness and an upstaging of invasive melanomas. However, the detection deferral did not result in a higher progression of in situ to invasive melanoma, in our sample.
Full text:
Available
Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Language:
English
Journal:
An. bras. dermatol
Journal subject:
Dermatology
Year:
2023
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Spain
Institution/Affiliation country:
Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Ferrol/ES
/
Universidad de Santiago de Compostela/ES
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