ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on the National Health Service in United Kingdom. The UK Ocular Oncology Services evaluated the impact on the adult eye cancer care in the UK. All four adult Ocular Oncology centres participated in a multicentre retrospective review comparing uveal melanoma referral patterns and treatments in a 4-month period during the national lockdown and first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 with corresponding periods in previous 2 years. During the national lockdown, referral numbers and confirmed uveal melanoma cases reduced considerably, equalling to ~120 fewer diagnosed uveal melanoma cases compared to previous 2 years. Contrary to the recent trend, increased caseloads of enucleation and stereotactic radiosurgery (p > 0.05), in comparison to fewer proton beam therapy (p < 0.05), were performed. In the 4-month period following lockdown, there was a surge in clinical activities with more advanced diseases (p < 0.05) presenting to the services. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to mount pressure and reveal its hidden impact on the eye cancer care, it is imperative for the Ocular Oncology Services to plan recovery strategies and innovative ways of working.
Subject(s)
COVID-19/epidemiology , Eye Neoplasms/epidemiology , Melanoma/epidemiology , Pandemics , Uveal Neoplasms/epidemiology , COVID-19/complications , COVID-19/therapy , COVID-19/virology , Communicable Disease Control/methods , Eye Neoplasms/complications , Eye Neoplasms/therapy , Eye Neoplasms/virology , Humans , Melanoma/complications , Melanoma/therapy , Melanoma/virology , Proton Therapy/methods , SARS-CoV-2/pathogenicity , State Medicine , United Kingdom/epidemiology , Uveal Neoplasms/complications , Uveal Neoplasms/therapy , Uveal Neoplasms/virologyABSTRACT
The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has imposed the adoption of strategies to limit the risk of contagion for cancer patients without compromising their healthcare. As well as cancers of other sites, the treatment of certain ocular and periocular malignancies is considered non-deferrable and should proceed despite the pandemic. Delays in treatment of these patients may result in negative outcomes. Herein, we provide some practical considerations deriving from our experience at the Ocular Oncology Unit of Careggi University Hospital (Florence, Italy).
Subject(s)
COVID-19/epidemiology , Delivery of Health Care/organization & administration , Eye Neoplasms/diagnosis , Eye Neoplasms/therapy , Hospitals, University/organization & administration , Medical Oncology/organization & administration , SARS-CoV-2 , Disease Outbreaks , Humans , Italy/epidemiologyABSTRACT
The outbreak of rapidly spreading COVID-19 pandemic in December 2019 has witnessed a major transformation in the health care system worldwide. This has led to the re-organization of the specialty services for the effective utilization of available resources and ensuring the safety of patients and healthcare workers. Suspension of oncology services will have major implications on cancer care due to delayed diagnosis and treatment leading to irreversible adverse consequences. Therefore various oncology organizations have called for a continuation of cancer care during this crisis with diligence. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the clinicians to transform the components of care from screening to outpatient care and primary management. The purpose of this article is to establish guidelines and recommendations for ocular oncology in the management of ocular tumors set by a multidisciplinary team of experts including ocular, medical and radiation oncologists, and pathologists. As the pandemic is evolving fast, it will require constant updates and reformation of health strategies and guidelines for safe and quality health care.