Limited impact of COVID‐19‐related diagnostic delay on cutaneous melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma tumour characteristics: a nationwide pathology registry analysis

• Published in: British journal of dermatology (1951) Vol. 187; no. 2; pp. 196 - 202
• Main Authors: Sangers, Tobias E., Wakkee, Marlies, Kramer‐Noels, Eline C., Nijsten, Tamar, Louwman, Marieke W.J., Jaspars, Elisabeth H., Hollestein, Loes M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Oxford University Press 01.08.2022; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - diagnosis; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - epidemiology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - pathology; Cohort Studies; Communicable Disease Control; COVID-19; COVID-19 - epidemiology; COVID-19 Testing; Delayed Diagnosis; Epidemiology; Histopathology; Humans; Invasiveness; Medical diagnosis; Melanoma; Melanoma - diagnosis; Melanoma - epidemiology; Melanoma, Cutaneous Malignant; Pandemics; Population studies; Registries; Skin cancer; Skin Neoplasms - diagnosis; Skin Neoplasms - epidemiology; Squamous cell carcinoma; Tumors
• ISSN: 0007-0963; 1365-2133; 1365-2133
• DOI: 10.1111/bjd.21050

Background The COVID‐19 pandemic reduced the number of skin cancer diagnoses, potentially causing a progression to unfavourable tumour stages. Objectives To identify the impact of delayed diagnostics on primary invasive melanoma and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) by comparing tumour (pT) stage, Breslow thickness and invasion depth from before to after the first and second lockdown periods. Methods In this population‐based cohort study, histopathology reports registered between 1 January 2018 and 22 July 2021 were obtained from the nationwide histopathology registry in the Netherlands. The Breslow thickness of melanomas, invasion depth of cSCCs, and pT stage for both tumour types were compared across five time periods: (i) pre‐COVID, (ii) first lockdown, (iii) between first and second lockdowns, (iv) second lockdown and (v) after second lockdown. Breslow thickness was compared using an independent t‐test. pT‐stage groups were compared using a χ2‐test. Outcomes were corrected for multiple testing using the false discovery rate. Results In total, 20 434 primary invasive melanomas and 68 832 cSCCs were included in this study. The mean primary melanoma Breslow thickness of the prepandemic era (period i) and the following time periods (ii–v) showed no significant difference. A small shift was found towards unfavourable pT stages during the first lockdown compared with the pre‐COVID period: pT1 52·3% vs. 58·6%, pT2 18·9% vs. 17·8%, pT3 13·2% vs. 11·0%, pT4 9·1% vs. 7·3% (P = 0·001). No relevant changes were seen in subsequent periods. No significant change in pT stage distribution was observed between the pre‐COVID (i) and COVID‐affected periods (ii–v) for cSCCs. Conclusions To date, the diagnostic delay caused by COVID‐19 has not resulted in relatively more unfavourable primary tumour characteristics of melanoma or cSCC. Follow‐up studies in the coming years are needed to identify a potential impact on staging distribution and survival in the long term. Linked Comment: F. Ricci and D. Abeni. Br J Dermatol 2022; 187:135–136.