Insight into the management of patients with melanoma in times of the COVID-19 pandemic: A single-center experience
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, suspen...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia, University of Defence, Belgrade
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Vojnosanitetski Pregled |
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| Online Access: | https://doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0042-8450/2024/0042-84502400010N.pdf |
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| author | Nikolić Jelena Marinković Marija Jovanović Mladen Mijatov Ivana Leković-Stojanov Dragana Kecman Stefan |
| author_facet | Nikolić Jelena Marinković Marija Jovanović Mladen Mijatov Ivana Leković-Stojanov Dragana Kecman Stefan |
| author_sort | Nikolić Jelena |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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 assess the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the treatment of melanoma patients. Methods. This retrospective study analyzed melanoma patients treated at a single tertiary care center over two distinct three-year periods: 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 3 0% reduction 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 country. Thin melanoma percentage as a measurement of successful screening programs decreased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic (11.57% vs. 24.01%), while median Breslow thickness remained stable. The distribution of different histological types was consistent across both periods. The average time from biopsy to surgery remained 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 melanoma care in emergencies, ensuring patient identification and timely treatment in order to optimize survival and minimize treatment costs. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-85d7daf05d0541bca6dccc7c5fedb2b1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0042-8450 2406-0720 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia, University of Defence, Belgrade |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Vojnosanitetski Pregled |
| spelling | doaj-art-85d7daf05d0541bca6dccc7c5fedb2b12025-08-20T03:38:03ZengMinistry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia, University of Defence, BelgradeVojnosanitetski Pregled0042-84502406-07202024-01-0181419720210.2298/VSP231022010N0042-84502400010NInsight into the management of patients with melanoma in times of the COVID-19 pandemic: A single-center experienceNikolić Jelena0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3399-8543Marinković Marija1Jovanović Mladen2Mijatov Ivana3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4771-4102Leković-Stojanov Dragana4Kecman Stefan5University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine, Novi Sad, Serbia + University Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Clinic for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Novi Sad, SerbiaUniversity of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine, Novi Sad, Serbia + University Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Clinic for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Novi Sad, SerbiaUniversity of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine, Novi Sad, Serbia + University Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Clinic for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Novi Sad, SerbiaUniversity of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine, Novi Sad, Serbia + University Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Clinic for Maxillofacial Surgery, Novi Sad, SerbiaUniversity Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Clinic for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Novi Sad, SerbiaUniversity Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Clinic for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Novi Sad, SerbiaBackground/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 assess the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the treatment of melanoma patients. Methods. This retrospective study analyzed melanoma patients treated at a single tertiary care center over two distinct three-year periods: 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 3 0% reduction 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 country. Thin melanoma percentage as a measurement of successful screening programs decreased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic (11.57% vs. 24.01%), while median Breslow thickness remained stable. The distribution of different histological types was consistent across both periods. The average time from biopsy to surgery remained 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 melanoma care in emergencies, ensuring patient identification and timely treatment in order to optimize survival and minimize treatment costs.https://doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0042-8450/2024/0042-84502400010N.pdfbiopsydermatologic surgical proceduresdiagnosismelanomacovid-19plastic surgery procedures |
| spellingShingle | Nikolić Jelena Marinković Marija Jovanović Mladen Mijatov Ivana Leković-Stojanov Dragana Kecman Stefan Insight into the management of patients with melanoma in times of the COVID-19 pandemic: A single-center experience Vojnosanitetski Pregled biopsy dermatologic surgical procedures diagnosis melanoma covid-19 plastic surgery procedures |
| title | Insight into the management of patients with melanoma in times of the COVID-19 pandemic: A single-center experience |
| title_full | Insight into the management of patients with melanoma in times of the COVID-19 pandemic: A single-center experience |
| title_fullStr | Insight into the management of patients with melanoma in times of the COVID-19 pandemic: A single-center experience |
| title_full_unstemmed | Insight into the management of patients with melanoma in times of the COVID-19 pandemic: A single-center experience |
| title_short | Insight into the management of patients with melanoma in times of the COVID-19 pandemic: A single-center experience |
| title_sort | insight into the management of patients with melanoma in times of the covid 19 pandemic a single center experience |
| topic | biopsy dermatologic surgical procedures diagnosis melanoma covid-19 plastic surgery procedures |
| url | https://doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0042-8450/2024/0042-84502400010N.pdf |
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