Diagnostic pathway and stage migration of sinonasal malignancies in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic

Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology

article

Christian M. Meerwein MD¹  Thomas M. Stadler MD¹  Panagiotis Balermpas MD²  Michael B. Soyka MD¹  David Holzmann MD¹ 

[1] Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, University Hospital Zurich;University of Zurich;Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Zurich

关键词: delay;    malignancy;    nasal vestibule carcinoma;    nasopharyngeal carcinoma;    pandemic;    sinonasal;    tumor;   

DOI  :  10.1002/lio2.640

学科分类：环境科学（综合）

来源: Wiley

【 摘 要 】

Objectives The COVID-19 pandemic bears the risk of delayed cancer diagnoses. Methods Study on the diagnostic pathway of sinonasal malignancies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results Median time from first symptom to treatment initiation was not increased during the pandemic: 137 days (interquartile range [IQR] 104-193) vs 139 days (IQR 103-219) ( P  = .60). Median time from first appointment at our institution to treatment initiation was even reduced in 2020: 18 days (IQR 11-25) vs 11 days (IQR 7-17) ( P  = .02). A trend toward advanced tumor stages during the pandemic was seen: 11/30 patients (36.7%) ≥ stage 4 in 2018 to 2019 vs 12/19 patients (63.2%) ≥ stage 4 in 2020 ( P  = .064). Conclusion Both, time to diagnosis and time to treatment initiation were similar during the pandemic. However, a higher proportion of advanced tumors stages was observed. Despite the pandemic, we provided a swift diagnostic workflow, including a virtual tumor board decision and a prompt treatment initiation. Level of Evidence: 4.

【 授权许可】

CC BY|CC BY-NC-ND