Sabău Adrian-Horațiu, Cocuz Iuliu-Gabriel, Niculescu Raluca, Tinca Andreea Cătălina, Szoke Andreea Raluca, Lazar Bianca-Andreea, Chiorean Diana Maria, Cotoi Ovidiu Simion
Doctoral School of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology "George Emil Palade" of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania.
Pathology Department, Mures Clinical County Hospital, 540011 Targu Mures, Romania.
Diagnostics (Basel). 2024 Sep 13;14(18):2032. doi: 10.3390/diagnostics14182032.
(1) Background: Melanoma represents the most aggressive form of skin cancer, with an increasing incidence and numerous risk factors. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to modifications in work protocols. This study aims to elucidate potential changes in the number and characteristics of primary melanomas diagnosed in the Pathology Department of the Târgu Mureș County Clinical Hospital before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. (2) Methods: This study included 140 patients grouped into six periods: two pre-COVID-19 periods, the COVID-19 pandemic period, and three post-COVID-19 periods. Epidemiological data, diagnoses, and histopathological reports were analyzed. (3) Results: The number of cases diagnosed during the COVID-19 pandemic was significantly lower than in the other analyzed periods. Regarding the monitored parameters, a statistically significant increase was observed in the first two post-COVID-19 periods, with a return to values similar to those of the first period in the last analyzed period. Additionally, a statistically significant increase in the incidence of distant metastases was identified in the post-COVID-19 periods. (4) Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the diagnosis of new melanoma cases, leading to an increase in the number of cases and a worsening of prognostic parameters.
(1) 背景：黑色素瘤是最具侵袭性的皮肤癌形式，发病率不断上升且存在众多风险因素。新冠疫情导致工作流程发生改变。本研究旨在阐明特尔古穆列什县临床医院病理科在新冠疫情之前、期间和之后诊断的原发性黑色素瘤的数量和特征的潜在变化。(2) 方法：本研究纳入了140名患者，分为六个时期：两个新冠疫情前时期、新冠疫情时期以及三个新冠疫情后时期。对流行病学数据、诊断结果和组织病理学报告进行了分析。(3) 结果：新冠疫情期间诊断的病例数显著低于其他分析时期。关于监测参数，在新冠疫情后的前两个时期观察到统计学上的显著增加，在最后一个分析时期恢复到与第一个时期相似的值。此外，在新冠疫情后时期发现远处转移的发生率有统计学上的显著增加。(4) 结论：新冠疫情对新黑色素瘤病例的诊断产生了负面影响，导致病例数量增加且预后参数恶化。
