Background
The effect of treatment delays on melanoma outcomes remains unclear.
Aim
To evaluate the impact of delays in surgical treatment on melanoma-specific mortality (MSM) and overall mortality (OM).
Methods
Patients with stage I to III cutaneous melanoma were identified through the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (N = 108,689). The included cases had time from diagnosis to definitive surgery and follow-up time.
Cox proportional hazards and Fine-Gray competing risks analyzes were used to assess the impact of treatment delays on mortality.
Results
- Across all stages, treatment delays of 3 to 5 months were associated with worse melanoma-specific mortality (MSM) and any delay greater than 1 month was associated with worse overall mortality (OM).
- In a subgroup analysis of patients with stage I disease, delays of 3 to 5 months were associated with worse MSM and any delay greater than 1 month was associated with worse overall mortality (OM).
- In patients with stage II disease, worse MSM was found with delays of more than 6 months and worse overall mortality (OM) with delays of 3 to 5 months.
- No significant effect of treatment delays was observed on stage III disease.
Limitations
The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database does not collect complete data on adjuvant treatments, disease recurrence, or treatment failure.
Conclusion
Timely treatment of melanoma may be associated with improved OM and MSM.
