The Impact of and Adaptations Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Histopathological Diagnosis of Skin Pathologies, Including Non-Melanocyte and Melanoma Skin Cancers—A Single-Center Study in Romania

Abstract

Background and Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has globally affected health systems and services. Non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) are the most common malignancies around the world. This study aimed to analyze the differences in the benign and malignant histopathological diagnoses performed on radical excision skin tumors and skin biopsies in the dermatopathology ward in Mures Clinical County Hospital, Targu Mures, Romania, 1 year prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic, to emphasize the changes in the diagnostic process as per the new regulations. Materials and Methods: A total of 1168 histopathological diagnoses were included in the study—302 from the COVID-19 period and 866 from the non-COVID-19 period—considering the number, type, and frequency of the histopathological diagnoses as variables to be analyzed. Results: In the COVID-19 period, out of the 55 NMSC and melanoma histopathological diagnoses, 50.9% (n = 28) were BCCs, 20% (n = 11) were SCCs, 10.9% (n = 6) were basosquamous cell carcinomas, and 18.18% (n = 10) were melanoma cases. Regarding the non-COVID-19 period, out of the 173 NMSC and melanoma histopathological diagnoses, 46.82% (n = 81) were BCCs, 22.54% (n = 39) were SCCs, 7.51% (n = 13) were basosquamous cell carcinomas, and 23.12% (n = 40) were melanoma cases. Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic, a decrease in histopathological diagnoses at the dermatopathology ward in our hospital was observed, for both benign and malignant pathologies, especially for NMSCs and melanomas, compared to the same period 1 year prior to the pandemic.

An Up-to-Date Correlation of Epidemiological and Histopathological Characteristics of Basal Cell Carcinoma of the Skin in a County Hospital in Romania

“…Unfortunately, we are prepared to see cases of skin cancer that are in more advanced stages due to the fact that patients did not receive adequate treatment on time, as well as because skin cancer management during the diagnosis and treatment phases was affected by the transformation of hospitals in to hospitals that were meant for the exclusive treatment of COVID-19. The Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus may further the diagnosis of NMSCs by overloading healthcare systems worldwide [ 15 , 16 ].…”

The impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the diagnosis and treatment of skin cancers, a mini review

“…The decrease in the incidence of skin cancers since the beginning of the pandemic can be attributed to the reduction in the diagnosis of cases, rather than the decreased incidence. 4 However, some authorities reported higher rates of skin cancer detection during the COVID era, which implies the continuous skin cancer services even during the strict shutdown. 5 The patients' reluctance to visit practitioners and dermatologists has been the main reason for diagnostic delay of skin cancers in recent years.…”

The Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic on Patients with Malignant Melanoma at a Romanian Academic Center: A Four-Year Retrospective Analysis

“…As a result, in the majority of hospitals, equipment and personnel were shifted to COVID-19 patients’ care, and elective appointments or scheduled surgical procedures were postponed for many weeks [ 9 ]. These approaches have had a significant impact on dermatology and plastic surgery departments in several hospitals in Romania [ 10 ], where elective admissions were targeted for emergent interventions and oncological patients, while the personnel was transferred to assist in the care of COVID-19 patients. In general, this practice happened during the whole two-year pandemic, but mostly during the lockdown phases, which were marked by significant restrictions and a high number of COVID-19 hospital admissions.…”