Diagnosis and treatment delay of head and neck cancers during COVID-19 era in a tertiary care academic hospital: what should we expect?

• DOI: 10.1007/s00405-021-06834-1
• Publication Date: 2021-04-30T10:03:00Z
• Authors: Pietro De Luca; Antonella Bisogno; Vito Colacurcio; Pasquale Marra; Claudia Cassandro; Angelo Camaioni; Ettore Cassandro; Alfonso Scarpa
• Keywords: Tertiary care; Pandemic; 2019-20 coronavirus outbreak

Since the spreading of SARS-CoV-2 from China, all deferrable medical activities have been suspended, to redirect resources for management COVID patients. The goal this retrospective study was investigate impact COVID-19 on head and neck cancers' diagnosis in our Academic Hospital.A analysis patients treated cancers between March 12 November 1, 2020 carried out, we compared these data with diagnoses same periods 5 previous years.47 were included study. We observed a significative reduction comparison period years.Our findings suggest that pandemic is associated decrease number new H&N diagnoses, substantial diagnostic delay can be attributable control measures.