The impact of COVID-19 on the progression and management of periocular basal cell carcinomas

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To identify whether the delay caused by COVID-19 had an impact on the peroperative size of lesions and the choice of reconstruction performed in patients with periocular basal cell carcinomas (BCCs).

Methods

We undertook a retrospective study looking at whether the delay caused by COVID-19 had an impact on the lesion size at the time of surgery, and consequently, on the choice of surgical repair. Results were compared to an equivalent time period a year prior to the onset of COVID-19. Elective surgery was stepped down at our hospital between March and June 2020. We collected data on patients that underwent BCC excisions between July 2020 and April 2021 and for an equivalent time period from 2019 to 2020. Measurements at listing were compared with those preoperatively obtained and from histological specimen.

Results

Analysis using the paired T-test yielded a p-value 0.005 for the growth of the lesion between listing and surgery after the onset of the pandemic, while pre-COVID the p-value was 0.04. Most patients were able to undergo the same procedure as planned for despite the delay and statistically significant growth while awaiting surgery.

Conclusion

Literature suggests that BCC operations can be safely delayed up to 3 months. Our longest wait post-COVID was 12 months with a mean wait of 5 months. Only two patients in this group had a more invasive surgery than planned. We conclude that the delay caused by the pandemic, even beyond 3 months, had a minimal impact on the surgical plan and outcomes for patients with BCCs.

KEYWORDS:

• Basal cell carcinoma
• COVID-19
• surgical delay

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Author contribution statement

PG was responsible for data collection, analysis and writing the report. HA was responsible for the study design and provided feedback on the report

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.