Characterising non-melanoma skin cancer undergoing surgical management during the COVID-19 pandemic

Public interest in dermatologic symptoms, conditions, treatments, and procedures during the COVID‐19 pandemic: Insights from Google Trends

“…Moreover, studies from Italy showed a statistically significant increase in mean Breslow thickness during the post‐lockdown phase compared with the pre‐lockdown and decreased detection of melanoma during the COVID‐19 pandemic 18,19 . Another study from the United Kingdom has reported that the NMSCs excised in 2020 required significantly larger and more complex surgery than in 2019 20 . Altogether, these findings suggest an increased delay in the diagnosis of skin cancers, which in turn might result in more advanced disease requiring more complex surgical procedures.…”

“…18,19 Another study from the United Kingdom has reported that the NMSCs excised in 2020 required significantly larger and more complex surgery than in 2019. 20 Altogether, these findings suggest an increased delay in the diagnosis of skin cancers, which in turn might result in more advanced disease requiring more complex surgical procedures. Implementation of teledermatology might help, at least partially to overcome these issues and effectively prioritize the patients in whom earlier treatment is needed.…”

COVID-19 impacts on dermatologic surgery patients: A single institution experience

“…The visiting rotation freeze complicated this application cycle for both stakeholders but provided an opportunity to address the historical inaccessibility of away rotations for many. 4,5…”

“…Our findings stand in contrast to a study that assessed non-melanoma skin cancer in a plastic surgery clinic, which found that the tumors removed in 2020 were larger compared to prior years. 5 This difference may be due to the differences in triage or surgical factors given the lack of skin-conserving modalities, such as Mohs surgery.…”

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Skin Cancers treated with Mohs Micrographic Surgery: A Retrospective Analysis at a Single United States Academic Institution

“…[1][2][3][4] Preliminary studies in the United Kingdom plastic surgery literature showed the short-term negative impact of the European lockdown on skin cancer outcomes, demonstrating that patients seen during the first wave of the pandemic had larger, more aggressive tumors with an increase in incomplete excision margins. 1,5 Prior studies in the United States literature have also shown that the COVID-19 pandemic led to delayed diagnosis and care for patients with skin cancer. 6 However, there remains limited data on the effect of these delays on skin cancer surgery outcomes, including stage of surgery and tumor size.…”