Browsing by Author "Brašanac, Dimitrije (6603393153)"

Early melanoma diagnosis plays a key role in ensuring best prognosis with good survival rates. The ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted global and national healthcare systems, thus making it a real challenge. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the pandemic on diagnostic delay in melanoma patients in Serbia. In this retrospective study, we included patients treated at the university hospital in Serbia’s capitol over a period of five years and three months. We compared the prepandemic (01/JAN/17-14/MAR/20) and pandemic periods (15/MAR/20-31/MAR/22) by evaluating patient demographic data, melanoma subtype, Breslow thickness, Clark level, ulceration status, mitotic index rate and pT staging. We observed a significant reduction in the number of diagnosed patients (86.3 vs. 13.7%; p = 0.036), with melanomas having an increased median Breslow thickness (1.80 vs. 3.00; p = 0.010), a higher percentage of Clark IV–V level lesions (44.0% vs. 63.0%; p = 0.009), an increase in median mitotic index rate (2 vs. 5; p < 0.001) and a trend of increase in lesions thicker than 2 mm (37.8% vs. 53.7%; p = 0.026). We believe that this study can be a useful scenario guide for future similar events, highlighting the importance of preventive measures and timely diagnosis for the best patient outcomes. © 2022 by the authors.

Early melanoma diagnosis plays a key role in ensuring best prognosis with good survival rates. The ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted global and national healthcare systems, thus making it a real challenge. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the pandemic on diagnostic delay in melanoma patients in Serbia. In this retrospective study, we included patients treated at the university hospital in Serbia’s capitol over a period of five years and three months. We compared the prepandemic (01/JAN/17-14/MAR/20) and pandemic periods (15/MAR/20-31/MAR/22) by evaluating patient demographic data, melanoma subtype, Breslow thickness, Clark level, ulceration status, mitotic index rate and pT staging. We observed a significant reduction in the number of diagnosed patients (86.3 vs. 13.7%; p = 0.036), with melanomas having an increased median Breslow thickness (1.80 vs. 3.00; p = 0.010), a higher percentage of Clark IV–V level lesions (44.0% vs. 63.0%; p = 0.009), an increase in median mitotic index rate (2 vs. 5; p < 0.001) and a trend of increase in lesions thicker than 2 mm (37.8% vs. 53.7%; p = 0.026). We believe that this study can be a useful scenario guide for future similar events, highlighting the importance of preventive measures and timely diagnosis for the best patient outcomes. © 2022 by the authors.

Introduction Intensive treatment protocols used for non-Hodgkin lymphoma in children lead to eventfree survival rates ranging from 80% to 90%. However, the results are less successful in developing countries. Lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) is the second most frequent type of lymphoma in children, contributing with about one third to all non-Hodgkin lymphoma in childhood. Objective The aim of the study was to evaluate the results of LBL treatment in University Children’s Hospital (UCH), Belgrade. Methods A retrospective analysis of patient records at UCH from 1997 to 2015 was carried out in patients aged 0–18 years, in whom the diagnosis of LBL had been established. Twenty-two children were included in the analysis. Results Mean age at diagnosis was 10 years, with preponderance of male patients. All patients were treated according to Berlin-Frankfurt-Munster-based chemotherapy protocols. With median follow-up of 91.5 months, five-year probability of event-free survival was 79.5% for all patients, while overall survival was 81.8%. Conclusion Our results, although slightly inferior to those of leading international groups, reflect a good treatment outcome in our patients. © 2016, Serbia Medical Society. All rights reserved.

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