In Situ, Invasive Melanoma Diagnoses Decreased in 2020
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com.
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, Sept. 7, 2023 -- During 2020, there were decreases seen for in situ and invasive melanoma diagnoses, according to a research letter published online Sept. 6 in JAMA Dermatology.
Daniel Y. Kim, from Harvard Medical School, and Rebecca I. Hartman, M.D., M.P.H., from Brigham and Women's Hospital, both in Boston, used data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program to examine changes in melanoma incidence during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 76,846 new cases of histologically confirmed first primary in situ or invasive cutaneous melanoma diagnosed between January 2018 and December 2020 were identified. Percentage changes (PC) of incidence rates (per 100,000 person-years) were calculated between 2018 and 2019 and 2019 and 2020.
The researchers found that between 2018 and 2019, in situ melanoma incidence rates were stable. In 2020 versus 2019, significant decreases were observed (PC, –24.52 percent), especially among older, male, and non-Hispanic White individuals (PCs, –27.51, –26.40, and –23.35 percent, respectively). No significant difference was seen in invasive melanoma incidence rates in 2019 versus 2018, but significant decreases occurred in 2020 versus 2019 (PC, –19.51 percent), especially among non-Hispanic White individuals (PC, –18.72 percent). In 2020, significant decreases were seen in the incidence of superficial spreading, T1, nonulcerated, and nonmitogenic melanomas (PCs, –19.56, –25.52, –21.22, and –24.40 percent, respectively). In 2020, a significant decrease was seen in the incidence of stage I melanomas but not other stages (PC, –22.26 percent).
"These findings may reflect decreased skin cancer screening examinations or access to dermatologic care during the pandemic, both of which may lead to reduced melanoma diagnoses," the authors write.
One author reported financial ties to industry.
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted September 2023
Read this next
ASCO: Neoadjuvant Ipilimumab + Nivolumab Ups Survival in Resectable Melanoma
WEDNESDAY, June 5, 2024 -- Neoadjuvant ipilimumab plus nivolumab followed by surgery results in longer event-free survival than surgery followed by adjuvant nivolumab among...
No Decline in Cardiovascular Events Seen With COVID-19 Vaccine After Acute Coronary Syndromes
MONDAY, June 3, 2024 -- Patients who have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose after acute coronary syndromes do not have a reduced risk for cardiovascular events...
Mortality Higher for COVID-19 Hospitalization Than for Flu in 2023/2024 Season
WEDNESDAY, May 22, 2024 -- In fall/winter 2023/2024, the risk for death in patients hospitalized for COVID-19 was greater than the risk for death in patients hospitalized for...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.