Can Melanoma wait for the End of the COVID-19 Pandemic?

Abstract

Introduction: Coronavirus 2019 disease (coronavirus disease 2019 - COVID-19) and social isolation guidelines promoted a drastic reduction of the demand for dermatological evaluation and surgeries, essential for early detection and prognosis of melanoma. Objective: To evaluate the reduced number of diagnoses and consultation of patients with melanoma resulting from COVID-19 between March 20 and June 30, 2019 and correlate with data collected between March 20 and June 30, 2020. Method: Retrospective, review study of medical charts of patients diagnosed with melanoma. It is a partial result obtained from a study that investigated the global impact of the pandemic in the dermatology outpatient clinic and residency. Results: In the period analyzed, a reduction of 94.1% of the consultation of patients with melanoma skin cancer was found. Neglecting melanoma during the pandemic can result in increased mortality and morbidity, in addition to higher healthcare costs. Conclusion: It is important that public and private services adjust to the restrictions in-force and considering the current scenario, efforts to facilitate the controlled access to the dermatologist must be made because it could avoid delays that can lead to worse prognosis.