Limited impact of COVID-19 related diagnostic delay on cutaneous melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma tumor characteristics: A nationwide pathology registry analysis

Br J Dermatol. 2022 Feb 10. doi: 10.1111/bjd.21050. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic reduced the number of skin cancer diagnoses, potentially causing a progression to unfavorable tumor stages.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the impact of delayed diagnostics on primary invasive melanoma and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) by comparing tumor (pT) stage, Breslow thickness and invasion depth from pre to post the first and second lockdown periods.