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Taccioli F, Blessent CGF, Paganelli A, Fagioli F, Chester JM, Kaleci S, Costantini M, Ferrari B, Fiorentini C, De Santis G, Magnoni C. Delay in Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma Diagnosis Due to Interrupted Services Is Associated with Worse Prognoses and Modified Surgical Approaches. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1469. [PMID: 38672551 PMCID: PMC11048546 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16081469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The delayed diagnosis of skin tumors is associated with a worsened prognosis. The impact of the interruption of clinical and surgical health services during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns has been documented among many pathologies. The impact of delayed diagnoses on patients with cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (cSCCs) is poorly defined. OBJECTIVE To compare patient and lesion characteristics and the surgical management of excised cSCCs prior to the pandemic shutdown of services (2018-2019) with the phase following the pandemic's second wave (2021-2022). METHODS An observational, single-center, cross-sectional study of 416 surgically excised cSCCs over the course of two years was performed. Only patients with histologically confirmed cSCC were enrolled. Data collection included patient demographics and lesion characteristics, time to surgery, surgical approach, and histological data. RESULTS More cSCC lesions were excised prior to the interruption of services (n = 312 vs. n = 186). Lesions were significantly larger (1.7 ± 1.2 vs. 2.1 ± 1.5 cm; p = 0.006) and more invasive (52% vs. 89%; p < 0.001), in the period 2021-2022. Surgical reconstructive techniques were significantly different (p = 0.001). Metastatic involvement was confirmed in three subjects (one in 2018-2019 and two in 2021-2022). There were no significant differences in the time to surgery or patient characteristics. Multivariable regression analysis identified a 4.7-times higher risk of tumor invasion (OR 4.69, 95%CI 2.55-8.16, p < 0.001), a two-times higher chance of dermo-epidermal grafts (OR 2.06, 95%CI 1.09-3.88, p = 0.025), and a 3.2-times higher risk of positive surgical margins (OR 3.21, 95%CI 1.44-7.17, p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS Diagnostic delays of cutaneous SCCs associated with reduced patient access to clinical and diagnostic services are associated with a 4.7-times increased risk of more severe invasion, a three-times increased risk of positive surgical margins, and a significant impact on surgical management, compared to the pre-pandemic period. Comparable patient cohort characteristics and time to surgery remained unchanged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filippo Taccioli
- Department of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Modena, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy;
| | - Claudio Gio Francesco Blessent
- Department of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Modena, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy;
| | - Alessia Paganelli
- PhD Course in Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy;
| | - Francesca Fagioli
- Health Directorate, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Modena, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy;
| | - Johanna Mary Chester
- Surgical, Medical, Dentistry and Morphological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (J.M.C.); (S.K.)
| | - Shaniko Kaleci
- Surgical, Medical, Dentistry and Morphological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (J.M.C.); (S.K.)
| | - Matteo Costantini
- Institute of Pathology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy;
| | - Barbara Ferrari
- Department of Dermatology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (B.F.); (C.F.); (C.M.)
| | - Chiara Fiorentini
- Department of Dermatology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (B.F.); (C.F.); (C.M.)
| | - Giorgio De Santis
- Department of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Modena, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy;
| | - Cristina Magnoni
- Department of Dermatology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (B.F.); (C.F.); (C.M.)
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Lugli G, Ottaviani MM, Botta A, Ascione G, Bruschi A, Cagnazzo F, Zammarchi L, Romagnani P, Portaluri T. The Impact of the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic on Healthcare Provision in Italy to non-COVID Patients: a Systematic Review. Mediterr J Hematol Infect Dis 2022; 14:e2022012. [PMID: 35070219 PMCID: PMC8746940 DOI: 10.4084/mjhid.2022.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Italy has been one of the countries most affected by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, and the regional healthcare system has had to quickly adapt its organization to meet the needs of infected patients. This has led to a drastic change in the routine management of non-communicable diseases with a potential long-term impact on patient health care. Therefore, we investigated the management of non-COVID-19 patients across all medical specialities in Italy. METHODS A PRISMA guideline-based systematic review of the literature was performed using PubMed, Embase, and Scopus, restricting the search to the main outbreak period in Italy (from February 20 to June 25 2020). We selected articles in English or Italian that detailed changes in the Italian hospital care for non-COVID-19 patients due to the pandemic. Our keywords included all medical specialities combined with our geographical focus (Italy) and COVID-19. RESULTS Of the 4643 potentially eligible studies identified by the search, 247 were included. A decrease in the management of emergencies in non-COVID patients was found together with an increase in mortality. Similarly, non-deferrable conditions met a tendency toward decreased diagnosis. All specialities have been affected by the re-organization of healthcare provision in the hub-and-spoke system and have benefited from telemedicine. CONCLUSIONS Our work highlights the changes in the Italian public healthcare system to tackle the developing health crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings of our review may be useful to analyse future directions for the healthcare system in the case of new pandemic scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianmarco Lugli
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- CEST Centre for Excellence and Transdisciplinary Studies, Turin, Italy
| | - Matteo Maria Ottaviani
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
- CEST Centre for Excellence and Transdisciplinary Studies, Turin, Italy
| | - Annarita Botta
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- CEST Centre for Excellence and Transdisciplinary Studies, Turin, Italy
| | - Guido Ascione
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
- CEST Centre for Excellence and Transdisciplinary Studies, Turin, Italy
| | - Alessandro Bruschi
- Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- CEST Centre for Excellence and Transdisciplinary Studies, Turin, Italy
| | - Federico Cagnazzo
- Department of Neuroradiology, Hôpital Gui de Chauliac, Montpellier University Medical Center, 80, Avenue Augustin Fliche, Montpellier, France
| | - Lorenzo Zammarchi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- Unit of Infectious and Tropical Disease, University Hospital Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Paola Romagnani
- Nephrology and Dialysis Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Meyer Children’s University Hospital, Florence, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Experimental and Clinical Sciences “Mario Serio,” University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Tommaso Portaluri
- IN Srl, Udine, Italy
- CEST Centre for Excellence and Transdisciplinary Studies, Turin, Italy
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Teuscher M, Diehl K, Schaarschmidt ML, Weilandt J, Sasama B, Ohletz J, Könnecke A, Harth W, Hillen U, Peitsch WK. Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on care of melanoma patients in Berlin, Germany: the Mela-COVID survey. Eur J Dermatol 2021. [PMID: 34463283 DOI: 10.1684/ejd.2021.4098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Background The COVID-19 pandemic imposes major challenges for care of cancer patients. Objectives Our aim was to assess the effects of the pandemic on treatment and appointments of patients with malignant melanoma based on a large skin cancer centre in Berlin, Germany, and identify reasons for, and impact factors associated with these changes. Materials & Methods Patients with melanoma treated from January 1st 2019 received a postal survey with questions on impairment due to the pandemic, fear of COVID-19, fear of melanoma, changes in therapy and/or appointments, including reasons for the changes. Impact factors on postponed/missed appointments were examined using descriptive analyses and multivariate logistic regression. Results The response rate was 41.3% (n = 324; 57.4% males; mean age: 67.9 years). Among 104 participants currently receiving therapy, four (3.8%) reported treatment changes due to the pandemic. Postponements or cancellations of appointments occurred in 48 participants (14.8%), most frequently, at their own request (81.3%) due to fear of SARS-CoV-2 infection (68.8%). Current treatment was associated with a reduced chance of postponing/missing appointments (OR = 0.208, p = 0.003), whereas a high or very high level of concern for COVID-19 (OR = 6.806, p = 0.034; OR = 10.097, p = 0.038), SARS-CoV-2 infection among close acquaintances (OR = 4.251, p = 0.026), anxiety disorder (OR = 5.465, p = 0.016) and AJCC stage IV (OR = 3.108, p = 0.048) were associated with a higher likelihood of postponing/missing appointments. Conclusion Among our participants, treatment changes were rare and the proportion of missed/delayed appointments was rather small. The main reasons for delays/cancellations of appointments were anxiety and concern for COVID-19. Supplementary data Supplementary data associated with this article can be found, in the online version, at doi:10.1684/ejd.2021.4098. Table S1. Disease and treatment characteristics and their association with postponed/missed appointments. Table S2. Treatment changes or postponement due to the pandemic. Table S3. Comorbidities and their association with postponed/missed appointments. Fig. S1. Number of new SARS-CoV-2 infections per day in Germany and Berlin between February 1st 2020 and July 1st 2020.
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Gisondi P, Cazzaniga S, Di Leo S, Piaserico S, Bellinato F, Pizzolato M, Gatti A, Eccher A, Brunelli M, Saraggi D, Girolomoni G, Naldi L. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on melanoma diagnosis. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2021; 35:e714-e715. [PMID: 34236721 PMCID: PMC8447457 DOI: 10.1111/jdv.17493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- P Gisondi
- Department of Medicine, Section of Dermatology and Venereology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - S Cazzaniga
- Centro Studi GISED, Bergamo, Italy.,Department of Dermatology, Inselspital University Hospital of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - S Di Leo
- Division of Dermatology, San Bortolo Hospital, Vicenza, Italy
| | - S Piaserico
- Department of Medicine, Section of Dermatology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - F Bellinato
- Department of Medicine, Section of Dermatology and Venereology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - M Pizzolato
- Division of Dermatology, Ospedale Santa Maria della Misericordia, Rovigo, Italy
| | - A Gatti
- Division of Dermatology, Ospedale Ca' Foncello di Treviso, Treviso, Italy
| | - A Eccher
- Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, Section of Pathology, University Hospital of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - M Brunelli
- Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, Section of Pathology, University Hospital of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - D Saraggi
- Division of Pathology, San Bortolo Hospital, Vicenza, Italy
| | - G Girolomoni
- Department of Medicine, Section of Dermatology and Venereology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - L Naldi
- Centro Studi GISED, Bergamo, Italy.,Division of Dermatology, San Bortolo Hospital, Vicenza, Italy
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Intergruppo Melanoma Italiano. The effect of COVID-19 emergency in the management of melanoma in Italy. Dermatol Reports 2021; 13:8972. [PMID: 33824708 PMCID: PMC8018261 DOI: 10.4081/dr.2021.8972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has severely hampered the functioning of any health system, absorbing a considerable amount of resources and with the threat of widespread infection in the health services. The present survey has been carried out in Italy to evaluate if and how COVID-19 also affected skin melanoma management. We enrolled 13 Italian centres highly qualified in the diagnosis and care of skin melanoma. We compared a set of information evaluating the amount of activity for melanoma performed during February-April 2020 with the same quarter in 2019. The number of new melanoma diagnosis, biopsies, wide local excisions, overall pathology reports decreased. However, the most severe cases seem promptly managed with sentinel lymph node biopsies, new systemic treatments (north) and the total number of (advanced) treated patients (centre-south). The COVID-19 experience has underlined the need to exploit the help which may come from telemedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Intergruppo Melanoma Italiano
- Andrea Anichini, Salvatore Asero, Melissa Bersanelli, Corrado Caracò, Vincenzo De Giorgi, Anna Maria Di Giacomo, Claudio Feliciani, Virginia Ferraresi, Paola Ghiorzo, Antonio M. Grimaldi, Michele Guida, Mario Mandalà, Daniela Massi, Simone Mocellin, Giuseppe Palmieri, Roberto Patuzzo, Maria Antonietta Pizzichetta, Roberto Ricci, Giulio Rossi, Pietro Quaglino, Paola Queirolo, Rebecca Senetta, Ignazio Stanganelli, Marco Tucci
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Elmas ÖF, Demirbaş A, Düzayak S, Atasoy M, Türsen Ü, Lotti T. Melanoma and COVID-19: A narrative review focused on treatment. Dermatol Ther 2020; 33:e14101. [PMID: 32734626 DOI: 10.1111/dth.14101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Melanoma is the most severe form of skin cancer and its incidence has increased over the past few decades. COVID-19 pandemic affected the diagnosis and management of many diseases including melanoma. In this study, we aimed to provide a review focused on the diagnosis and management of melanoma in the era of COVID-19. A comprehensive search was conducted on PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases using the keywords "melanoma," "coronavirus," "COVID 19," and "SARS-CoV-2." The relevant guidelines published by the European Society for Medical Oncology and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network were also included. The current guidelines recommend that surgical interventions for new diagnosis of invasive primary melanoma, patients with postoperative complications, wide resection and sentinel lymph node biopsy for newly diagnosed T3-T4 melanoma, and planned surgical procedures for patients in neo-adjuvant trials should be prioritized. Surgical treatment of T3/T4 melanomas should be prioritized over T1/T2 melanomas except for any melanoma in which large clinical residual lesion is visible. Adjuvant therapies can be postponed for up to 12 weeks depending on the local center circumstances. PD-1 inhibitor monotherapy is recommended for patients starting immunologic therapy. Combination immunotherapy is still considered suitable for patients with higher-risk disease. Encorafenib and binimetinib should be prioritized for patients requiring BRAF-targeted therapy due to the lower chance of symptoms mimicking COVID-19 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ömer Faruk Elmas
- Department of Dermatology, Kırşehir Ahi Evran University, Kırşehir, Turkey
| | | | - Serkan Düzayak
- Department of Dermatology, Sakarya Training and Research Hospital, Sakarya, Turkey
| | - Mustafa Atasoy
- Department of Dermatology, Health Science University, Kayseri City Hospital, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Ümit Türsen
- Department of Dermatology, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey
| | - Torello Lotti
- Department of Dermatology, Guglielmo Marconi University, Rome, Italy
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Piccerillo A, Fossati B, Cappilli S, Sollena P. Dermatologic surgery in the COVID-19 era: Observations and practical suggestions. Dermatol Ther 2020; 33:e13873. [PMID: 32558057 PMCID: PMC7323092 DOI: 10.1111/dth.13873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Revised: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alfredo Piccerillo
- Department of Dermatology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli-IRCCS, Rome, Italy.,Institute of Dermatology, Catholic University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Barbara Fossati
- Department of Dermatology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli-IRCCS, Rome, Italy.,Institute of Dermatology, Catholic University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Simone Cappilli
- Institute of Dermatology, Catholic University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Pietro Sollena
- Department of Dermatology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Ring
- Department Dermatology and Allergy BiedersteinTechnical University Munich (TUM)MunichGermany
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