The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on head and neck cancer diagnosis: a single-center study

Abstract

Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has changed healthcare systems’ functioning and priorities worldwide, negatively impacting cancer screening. Adverse effects of delayed diagnosis of head and neck cancer (HNC) may be associated with poorer overall survival. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on HNC diagnosis. Materials and Methods A retrospective analysis of database records of patients diagnosed with HNC in a single tertiary center from March 1, 2020, until April 30, 2021 (COVID group) was performed and compared to the period from January 1, 2019, to February 30, 2020 (pre-COVID group). Patients’ general characteristics, disease extent in TNM classification, symptom duration, incidence of dyspnea at admission, emergency tracheotomy at admission, and indications for percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) were compared. Results One hundred and seventy-two patients with newly diagnosed HNC were enrolled. The most common tumor location was the larynx, followed by the hypopharynx. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of the patients’ general or clinical characteristics, disease extent in TNM classification, and symptoms duration. However, the likelihood of PEG being performed in the COVID group was over three times higher (OR=3.15, 95% CI: 1.08 to 9.18, p=0.049). Conclusions During the pandemic, more patients had dysphagia or malnutrition requiring PEG. However, the pandemic did not affect the progression of patients’ HNC significantly.