biostudies-literatureUnknown18(3)Gambichler T<h4>Background</h4>The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted access to routine dermatologic care and may have delayed melanoma diagnosis and management. Evidence on the post-pandemic period and on hospital-based referral cohorts remains limited. We assessed melanoma presentations before, during and after the pandemic in three skin cancer centers in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.<h4>Methods</h4>We conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study of inpatients with cutaneous melanoma grouped into Phase 1 (February 2017-February 2020), Phase 2 (March 2020-March 2023), and Phase 3 (April 2023-May 2024). The primary endpoint was Breslow tumor thickness (TT) among invasive melanomas, analyzed using multivariable log-linear regression adjusted for center, age, sex, anatomic site, and histologic subtypeCancers539https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12896566biostudies-literatureMelanoma Presentations Before, During, and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multicenter Cohort Study from North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.PMC12896566Colo CAbu Rached NBoms SGambichler TWeyer-Fahlbusch SSSusok LfalseMelanoma Presentations Before, During, and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multicenter Cohort Study from North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.<h4>Background</h4>The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted access to routine dermatologic care and may have delayed melanoma diagnosis and management. Evidence on the post-pandemic period and on hospital-based referral cohorts remains limited. We assessed melanoma presentations before, during and after the pandemic in three skin cancer centers in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.<h4>Methods</h4>We conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study of inpatients with cutaneous melanoma grouped into Phase 1 (February 2017-February 2020), Phase 2 (March 2020-March 2023), and Phase 3 (April 2023-May 2024). The primary endpoint was Breslow tumor thickness (TT) among invasive melanomas, analyzed using multivariable log-linear regression adjusted for center, age, sex, anatomic site, and histologic subtype2026-01-01T00:00:00Z2026 Feb2026-07-08T03:13:54.314Z2026-07-08T03:08:33.972ZS-EPMC128965664168200910.3390/cancers18030539