Influence of COVID‐19 confinement on the size of malignant skin tumours surgically removed at a Spanish hospital

Abstract

Summary The COVID‐19 pandemic required people to confine themselves to their homes where possible, and disrupted normal hospital activities. We examine whether this lockdown generated changes in the size of the tumours. We compared the dimensions of the surgically removed malignant skin tumours from the first 150 patients treated after the confinement ended in Spain (22 May 2020) with those of the last 150 patients to receive such treatment before the confinement began (13 March 2020). Data on tumour surface area were collected from pathology reports. Overall, no significant difference was seen in the tumour sizes. However, among men, the tumours removed after confinement were significantly larger ( P < 0.05). Controversy exists over how the reduction in the number of tumours diagnosed during lockdowns might have influenced the characteristics of tumours. In this study, no overall difference was seen in the size of the tumours removed, although those removed from men after confinement were larger.

The impact of COVID-19 on nonmelanoma skin cancer: the experience of an Irish dermatology department. Comment on: 'Influence of Covid-19 confinement on the size of malignant skin tumours surgically removed at a Spanish hospital'

“…In that study, no overall difference was seen in the size of the tumours removed, although those removed from men after confinement were significantly larger. We present our findings on the impact of the pandemic on the rates of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) diagnosis and tumour size from an Irish dermatology department, the results which demonstrate a contrast to the findings of Conde‐Taboada et al 1 …”

“…In that study, no overall difference was seen in the size of the tumours removed, although those removed from men after confinement were significantly larger. We present our findings on the impact of the pandemic on the rates of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) diagnosis and tumour size from an Irish dermatology department, the results which demonstrate a contrast to the findings of Conde-Taboada et al 1 In this study, we identified the total number of patients who attended for diagnostic skin biopsy or excision from January to December 2019 (prepandemic), and compared the rates of diagnoses and size of NMSC lesions diagnosed during this period with those for the period January 2020 to December 2021 (during the pandemic). Patients were identified through departmental histology and operative records.…”

“…We read with interest the recent report by Conde‐Taboada et al 1 . in Clinical and Experimental Dermatology , describing their finding on the impact of COVID‐19 on the size of malignant skin tumours seen in a Spanish hospital.…”

“…Dear Editor, We read with interest the recent report by Conde-Taboada et al 1 in Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, describing their finding on the impact of COVID-19 on the size of malignant skin tumours seen in a Spanish hospital. In that study, no overall difference was seen in the size of the tumours removed, although those removed from men after confinement were significantly larger.…”

“…It is characterized by widespread maculopapular eruption, fever, lymphadenopathy, visceral involvement and haematological abnormalities. 1 Commonly reported complications include autoimmune thyroid disease and Type 1 diabetes mellitus, while less common complications include alopecia, lupus…”