COVID-19-Induced Reduction in Primary Melanoma Diagnoses: Experience from a Dermatopathology Referral Center
Magdalena Hoellwerth, Andreas Kaiser, Michael Emberger, Matthias Brandlmaier, Martin Laimer, Alexander Egger, Johann Bauer, Peter Koelblinger
Abstract
The collateral damage caused by COVID-19 pandemic-associated public health and governmental measures on patient care has been increasingly assessed in various oncological and non-oncological clinical settings. In order to investigate potential adverse effects in the field of melanoma the present study analyzed the characteristics of primary melanoma diagnoses at an Austrian dermato-pathological referral center before, during, and after the first coronavirus-related lockdown in March 2020. As suspected, we found significant temporary reductions in the number of newly diagnosed melanomas in 2020 compared to previous years, in particular, during the first lockdown period.