Abstract 27: Evolution of the Time Between Diagnosis and Treatment of Melanoma in Brazil: A 10-Year Study

Abstract

Abstract Purpose: This study aims to analyze the trends in the time interval between the diagnosis and the initiation of treatment for melanoma cases in Brazil’s public healthcare system over the past 10 years. The research seeks to identify patterns and potential delays in healthcare delivery within the public sector, providing insights to improve timely access to treatment and patient outcomes. Methods: A descriptive study was conducted using data from the Department of Informatics of the Unified Health System (DATASUS). The cases belong to the period between January 2015 and November 2024 and are distributed by the year of diagnosis. The intervals were classified into four categories: 0 to 30 days, 31 to 60 days, more than 60 days and no treatment information. Surgeries performed before diagnosis are included in the interval of 0 to 30 days. Results: The study analyzed 35,280 cases, with 13,085 cases (37.1%) treated within 0 to 30 days, 974 cases (2.8%) within 31 to 60 days, 4,969 cases (14.1%) after 60 days and 16,252 cases (46.1%) lacking treatment information. Between 2015 and 2017, diagnoses in Brazil increased from 87 to 239, with over 85% lacking treatment data. In 2018, diagnoses rose significantly to 3,035 cases, with 46.4% treated within 30 days and 37.4% lacking data. In 2019, cases increased to 5,650, but nearly half (48.7%) still had no information. The peak occurred in 2023, with 6,222 cases, of which 37.8% were treated within 30 days and 49.2% lacked treatment records. Despite an increase in treatments within 30 days, from 5.7% (2015) to 41.3% (2022), the lack of data remained high, ranging from 37.4% (2018) to 61.3% (2024). Conclusion: The study analyzed 35,280 cases of malignant melanoma in Brazil, with 37.1% treated within 30 days, 2.8% between 31 and 60 days, 14.1% after 60 days, and 46.1% lacking treatment information. Diagnoses increased significantly from 2018, peaking at 6,222 cases in 2023. The percentage of treatments initiated within 30 days grew from 5.7% (2015) to 41.3% (2022), reflecting improvements in access and timely care. However, the absence of treatment data remained high, ranging from 37.4% in 2018 to 61.3% in 2024. This gap undermines the assessment of clinical management and health policy outcomes, highlighting the need for better data recording and case follow-up. Investing in more robust information systems is essential to ensure accurate analysis, optimize clinical outcomes, and promote equitable access to treatment. Citation Format: Isabela Karina Vilas Boas, Yasmin Marques Loureiro, Yasmin De França, Gabriela Gerevini Dal Alba. Evolution of the Time Between Diagnosis and Treatment of Melanoma in Brazil: A 10-Year Study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 13th Annual Symposium on Global Cancer Research; 2025 Sep 16. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2025;34(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 27.

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