Delays in the surgical treatment of melanoma are associated with worsened overall and melanoma-specific mortality: A population-based analysis.

BACKGROUND

The effect of treatment delays on melanoma outcomes remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the impact of surgical treatment delays on melanoma-specific mortality (MSM) and overall mortality (OM).

METHODS

Patients with stage I to III cutaneous melanoma were identified through the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (N = 108,689). Included cases had time from diagnosis to definitive surgery and follow-up time. Cox proportional hazards and Fine-Gray competing risks analyses were used to assess the impact of treatment delays on mortality.

RESULTS

Across all stages, treatment delays of 3 to 5 months were associated with worse MSM and any delay beyond 1 month was associated with worse OM. In a subgroup analysis of patients with stage I disease, delays of 3 to 5 months were associated with worse MSM and any delay beyond 1 month was associated with worse OM. In patients with stage II disease, worse MSM was found with delays of 6+ months and worse OM was seen with delays of 3 to 5 months. No significant effect of treatment delays was noted in stage III disease.

LIMITATIONS

The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database does not collect comprehensive data on adjuvant treatments, disease recurrence, or treatment failure.

CONCLUSION

Timely treatment of melanoma may be associated with improved OM and MSM.