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. 2021 May;34(3):e14908.
doi: 10.1111/dth.14908. Epub 2021 Mar 8.

Management of melanoma patients during COVID-19 pandemic in an Italian skin unit

Angela Filoni  1 , Paolo Del Fiore  1 , Rocco Cappellesso  2 , Luigi Dall'Olmo  1 , Nick Salimian  3 , Romina Spina  1 , Saveria Tropea  1 , Marco Rastrelli  1   3 , Francesco Russano  1 , Mattia D'Amico  1 , Alessandra Collodetto  1 , Carlo Riccardo Rossi  1   3 , Alessandra Buja  4 , Antonella Vecchiato  1 , Mauro Alaibac  5 , Simone Mocellin  1   3
Affiliations

Management of melanoma patients during COVID-19 pandemic in an Italian skin unit

Angela Filoni et al. Dermatol Ther. 2021 May.

Abstract

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, many scheduled medical and surgical activities have been suspended. This interruption to the healthcare system can negatively affect the diagnosis and management of melanoma. Neglecting melanoma throughout the outbreak may be associated with increased rates of mortality, morbidity, and healthcare expenses. We performed a retrospective review of all dermatological and surgical activity performed in our Melanoma Skin Unit between 23 February 2020 and 21 May 2020 and compared these data with those from the same period in 2019. During the lockdown period, we observed a decrease in dermatologic follow-up (DFU) (-30.2%) and in surgical follow-up (SFU) (-37%), and no modification of melanoma diagnosis (-3%). Finally, surgical excisions (SE) (+ 31.7%) increased, but sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) (-29%) and lymph node dissections(LND) (-64%) decreased compared to the same period in 2019. Our experience supports the continuation of surgical and diagnostic procedures in patients with melanoma during the COVID-19 pandemic. Surgical and follow-up procedures for the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma should not be postponed considering that the pandemic is lasting for an extended period.

Keywords: COVID-19; melanoma; melanoma management; melanoma surgical management; skin cancer; surgery.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Comparison of clinical activities between 2019 and 2020
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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