Insight into the management of patients with melanoma in times of the COVID-19 pandemic – a single-center experience

Jelena  Nikolić; Marija Marinković; Mladen Jovanović; Ivana Mijatov; Dragana Leković-Stojanov; Stefan Kecman

doi:10.2298/VSP231022010N

Jelena Nikolić University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine, Novi Sad, Serbia
Marija Marinković University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine, Novi Sad, Serbia
Mladen Jovanović University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine, Novi Sad, Serbia
Ivana Mijatov University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine, Novi Sad, Serbia
Dragana Leković-Stojanov University Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Clinic for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Novi Sad, Serbia
Stefan Kecman University Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Clinic for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Novi Sad, Serbia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2298/VSP231022010N

Keywords: biopsy;, dermatologic surgical procedures;, diagnosis;, melanoma;, covid-19;, plastic surgery procedures.

Abstract

Background/Aim. Despite all innovations in medicine, melanoma still has a rising incidence and high mortality and thus represents a significant challenge for the healthcare system. The pandemic of the coronavirus dis-ease 2019 (COVID-19), spanning three years, redirected healthcare resources, suspended preventive programs, and strained the healthcare system, significantly impacting melanoma management. The aim of this study was to as-sess the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the treatment of melanoma patients. Methods. This retro-spective study analyzed melanoma patients treated at a single tertiary care center over two distinct three-year peri-ods: pre-COVID period (2017–2020) and the COVID-19 pandemic period (2020–2022). The following data were collected and compared: patient demographics, melanoma characteristics, time intervals from biopsy to surgery, and the share of thin and thick melanoma. Results. During the COVID-19 pandemic period, there was a 30% reduc-tion in melanoma patients compared to the pre-COVID-19 period. The decline was most pronounced in 2020 when the state of emergency was introduced in the coun-try. Thin melanoma percentage as a measurement of suc-cessful screening programs decreased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic (11.57% vs. 24.01%), while me-dian Breslow thickness remained stable. The distribution of different histological types was consistent across both periods. The average time from biopsy to surgery re-mained similar between the two periods, around 40 days. Conclusion. Despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, melanoma remains a critical healthcare issue. This study emphasized the significance of prioritizing mel-anoma care in emergencies, ensuring patient identification and timely treatment in order to optimize survival and minimize treatment costs.

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