The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on keratinocyte carcinoma in the Netherlands: Trends in diagnoses and magnitude of diagnostic delays
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Feb 08, 2022
Findings demonstrate a suboptimal diagnosis of keratinocyte carcinoma during the COVID-19 pandemic, because of diagnostic delays probably consequent to both patient and health system related delay. Further studies will require to ascertain the impacts of these diagnostic delays on outcomes.
Using data from the Netherlands Cancer Registry, experts assessed the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on trends in diagnoses of keratinocyte carcinoma (cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), basal cell carcinoma (BCC)) and evaluated the magnitude of diagnostic delays.
A substantial reduction in the number of cSCC and BCC diagnoses was evident than the number of diagnoses expected during March to May 2020 (cSCC -29%, BCC -50%).
Such reductions were seen across all age groups, both genders, and all regions.
There was a higher than expected number of cSCC and BCC diagnoses in June to September, thereafter it slightly dropped below expected in October to December.
Overall, 2020 keratinocyte carcinoma diagnoses continued to trail those expected, with a backlog of approximately 1,150 cSCCs and 11,767 BCCs remaining at the end of the year.
-
Exclusive Write-ups & Webinars by KOLs
-
Daily Quiz by specialty
-
Paid Market Research Surveys
-
Case discussions, News & Journals' summaries