Izvorni znanstveni članak
https://doi.org/10.20471/acc.2022.61.s4.2
The Impact of COVID-19 on Head and Neck Cancer Treatment Delay
Krešimir Gršić
; Zagreb University Hospital Center, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Zagreb, Croatia
Igor Blivajs
; Zagreb University Hospital Center, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Zagreb, Croatia
Marija Pastorčić Grgić
; Zagreb University Hospital Center, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Zagreb, Croatia
Drago Prgomet
; Zagreb University Hospital Center, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Zagreb, Croatia; University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
Juraj Lukinović
; Zagreb University Hospital Center, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Zagreb, Croatia
Ozren Vugrinec
; Zagreb University Hospital Center, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Zagreb, Croatia
Lovro Matoc
; Zagreb University Hospital Center, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Zagreb, Croatia
Borna Miličić
; Zagreb University Hospital Center, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Zagreb, Croatia
Dinko Leović
; Zagreb University Hospital Center, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Zagreb, Croatia; Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, School od Dental Medicine and Health, Osijek, Croatia
Sažetak
The aim of this study was to demonstrate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic
on the number and characteristics of head and neck cancer patients in two consecutive periods,
pre-pandemic and pandemic. For this purpose, we performed a retrospective analysis of patients with
primary carcinomas of head and neck mucosal sites, salivary gland tumors, as well as neck metastases.
Two pre-COVID-19 years (2018-2019) and two pandemic years (2020-2021) were compared. Demographic
data, overall number of patients, TNM classification of the two most affected sites (oral
cavity and larynx), time from symptom onset to first outpatient admission to our department, and
time from first admission to treatment initiation were noted. Study results revealed a higher number
of patients during the pandemic period and difference in the distribution of tumor sites (χ2=33.68,
df=9, p<0.001). Oral cavity cancer prevailed over laryngeal cancer during the pandemic period. A statistically
significant difference was observed in delay of initial presentation to head and neck surgeon
for oral cavity cancer during the pandemic period (p=0.019). Furthermore, significant delay was found
for both sites concerning time from initial presentation to the beginning of treatment (larynx: p=0.001
and oral cavity: p=0.006). Despite these facts, there were no differences in TNM stages comparing
two observed periods. Study results indicated that there was a statistically significant delay of surgical
treatment for both cancer sites observed (oral cavity and larynx) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A survival study is necessary in the future to definitely reveal the true consequences of COVID-19
pandemic on treatment outcomes.
Ključne riječi
COVID-19; Head and Neck Cancer; Pandemic; Delay in Care
Hrčak ID:
292358
URI
Datum izdavanja:
31.10.2022.
Posjeta: 1.420 *