Metastatic Melanoma: A Consequence of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Metastatic melanoma, though less common than other skin cancers, remains one of the deadliest, particularly in late-stage disease. Our report aims to highlight the importance of early detection and treatment to reduce the morbidity, mortality, and significant disfigurement associated with advanced melanoma. The subject of this case is an 81-year-old female who presented to our emergency department as a trauma patient after being found lying down by a neighbor for an unknown amount of time. She was discovered to have a large fungating nasal mass which was subsequently diagnosed as highly invasive melanoma. A thorough workup revealed a metastatic cerebellar lesion, a large ulcerated basal cell carcinoma eroding her calvarium, and a hemorrhagic lesion within her internal capsule that left her with right-sided hemiparesis. During hospitalization, she underwent palliative resection of the primary nasal mass with flap reconstruction, radiation therapy for her cerebellar lesion, and daily physical therapy. Additional surgery was required for hematoma evacuation and pedicle dissection. Though lockdowns were an important part of the pandemic, they were not without their drawbacks, many of which are still being elucidated. Particularly, by utilizing telehealth services, our patient may have had earlier recognition of her melanoma and a better outcome. Regardless, enhancing patient education and maintaining access to care even through lockdowns poses a potential target for improving melanoma survivability while decreasing associated morbidity.