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

Background The COVID-19 pandemic reduced the number of skin cancer diagnoses, potentially causing a progression to unfavourable tumour stages. Objectives To identify the impact of delayed diagnostics on primary invasive melanoma and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) by comparing tumour (pT) stage, Breslow thickness and invasion depth from before to after the first and second lockdown periods. Methods In this population-based cohort study, histopathology reports registered between 1 January 2018 and 22 July 2021 were obtained from the nationwide histopathology registry in the Netherlands. The Breslow thickness of melanomas, invasion depth of cSCCs, and pT stage for both tumour types were compared across five time periods: (i) pre-COVID, (ii) first lockdown, (iii) between first and second lockdowns, (iv) second lockdown and (v) after second lockdown. Breslow thickness was compared using an independent t-test. pT-stage groups were compared using a chi(2)-test. Outcomes were corrected for multiple testing using the false discovery rate. Results In total, 20 434 primary invasive melanomas and 68 832 cSCCs were included in this study. The mean primary melanoma Breslow thickness of the prepandemic era (period i) and the following time periods (ii-v) showed no significant difference. A small shift was found towards unfavourable pT stages during the first lockdown compared with the pre-COVID period: pT1 52 center dot 3% vs. 58 center dot 6%, pT2 18 center dot 9% vs. 17 center dot 8%, pT3 13 center dot 2% vs. 11 center dot 0%, pT4 9 center dot 1% vs. 7 center dot 3% (P = 0 center dot 001). No relevant changes were seen in subsequent periods. No significant change in pT stage distribution was observed between the pre-COVID (i) and COVID-affected periods (ii-v) for cSCCs. Conclusions To date, the diagnostic delay caused by COVID-19 has not resulted in relatively more unfavourable primary tumour characteristics of melanoma or cSCC. Follow-up studies in the coming years are needed to identify a potential impact on staging distribution and survival in the long term.

Automated summary

This study compared the changes in tumor stage, Breslow thickness, and invasion depth of primary invasive melanoma and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The results showed that the diagnostic delay caused by COVID-19 did not significantly affect the tumor characteristics of melanoma or cSCC.