ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Changes in the entire health care system during COVID-19 epidemic have affected the management of patients with head and neck cancer and posed several clinical challenges for ENT surgeons. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of COVID-19 on the stage and the type of surgical treatments used in laryngeal cancer (including total laryngectomy, supracricoid partial laryngectomy (SCPL) and transoral laser microsurgery (TLM)) and also to compare the results of April 2020 to April 2021 with the previous year. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed on all patients with a diagnosis of laryngeal cancer who underwent surgery in the tertiary care center from April 2020 to April 2021 and the year before the pandemic in the same time. Demographic, cancer stage, and treatment data of all patients were recorded and analysis in two groups. RESULTS: Patients referred at the time of the virus outbreak; 111 were male and 5 were female, and in the group of patients referred before COVID-19, 90 were male and 12 were female. The type of surgical treatment of laryngeal cancer, mean time elapsed from sampling to surgery, stage of disease and mean tumor volume was statistically significant differences in patients before and during the outbreak. CONCLUSION: Patients who referred for diagnosis and treatment at the time of COVID-19 outbreak had more advanced stages of the disease and also the tumor volume was higher in them than patients who had referred before the outbreak. It is necessary to provide new solutions, education and treatment management for patients with laryngeal cancer in such pandemics.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Laryngeal Neoplasms , Laser Therapy , COVID-19/epidemiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Laryngeal Neoplasms/epidemiology , Laryngeal Neoplasms/etiology , Laryngeal Neoplasms/surgery , Laryngectomy/methods , Laser Therapy/methods , Male , Pandemics , Retrospective Studies , SARS-CoV-2 , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Since December 2019, novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infection has been identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness in Wuhan, China. The classic presentation of COVID-19 infection was described as fever, myalgia, cough, and fatigue. Whether coronavirus can directly attack the endocrine glands is unclear. OBJECTIVE: Post-viral subacute thyroiditis (SAT, de Quervain thyroiditis) has been reported following other viral infection. A limited number of SAT after COVID-19 infection have been reported up to now. METHODS: Here, we reported 6 patients with SAT and positive COVID-19 serology tests. Demographic, clinical, biochemical, and imaging data were presented. RESULTS: In this study, 6 patients (4 women and 2 men) with clinician manifestations and physical examination in favor of SAT were described. Cervical ultrasonography showed bilateral hypoechoic areas in the thyroid gland which was suggestive of SAT. Elevated C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, free thyroxine, free tri-iodothyronine, and undetectable thyrotropin were found in laboratory evaluations. Both IgM and IgG were positive for COVID-19 infection, but the PCR tests were negative in all patients. Patients had history of working in a COVID center and/or family member hospitalized due to COVID-19 pneumonia. Patients were followed up for 1 month and were treated effectively with steroids. CONCLUSION: This report may help physicians to identify lesser-known manifestations and complications of COVID-19. Early diagnosis of COVID-19 infection results in the prevention of further transmission.