Management of patients with melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers in the coronavirus disease 2019 era.

Abstract

In this reorganization, dermatology departments have also adapted their activities suspending routine patient visits and providing only urgent surgical removal, urgent visits, consultations, and oncological examinations [ ]this particular situation has led dermato-oncology to address new challenges, concerning medical oncological therapies for melanoma patients, management of individuals on topical treatments for non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC), follow-up of patients with advanced melanoma and advanced NMSC Teledermatology can be a valid tool if used correctly;it allows to make video calls with some categories of patients, for example, evaluation of psoriasis area severity index (PASI) during systemic therapies for psoriasis, first level screening of keratinocytic or melanocytic lesions, evaluation of clinical manifestations of chronic diseases (for example, atopic dermatitis, bullous diseases) For surgery we recommend therefore: (1) postponing surgeries of low risk cancers and inform the patients to contact the clinic in case of any recent changes;(2) for surgeries that cannot be postponed, schedule appointments with sufficient time between two sessions in order to avoid long waiting time in the waiting room;(3) patients should wear the surgical mask during the entire stay in the hospital;(4) it would be desirable to test patients via swab before extensive surgeries requiring hospitalization or frequent access for wound dressing;(5) where possible, switch to medical therapies with topical drugs and perform controls by telematic consultation