RESUMEN
Introduction: To restrict the spread of COVID-19 infection, billions of people around the world have been quarantined or in social isolation. As a result of these health public measures, only essential services were maintained. Outpatient consultations and non-urgent surgeries were suspended to reduce hospitalizations and the risk of contagion. This context resulted in a delay in the diagnosis of several diseases, including head and neck cancer (HNC). Objective(s): To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the treatment of HNC, comparing the number of surgery and radiotherapy, and chemotherapy procedures carried out during the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods in Brazil. Material(s) and Method(s): We compared the mean number of HNC surgeries and the number of radiotherapy and chemotherapy procedures carried out during the pre-pandemic (from March to July 2015-2019) and pandemic period (from March to July 2020) in the five geographic regions of Brazil. Result(s): Between 2015 and 2019, the mean number of surgeries for HNC was 5410. In 2020, during the same period, there were 3522 surgeries, representing a 35% decrease during the pandemic period. The greatest decrease was observed in the Northern region (60.7%). The number of radiotherapy and chemotherapy procedures increased by 50,8% in the pandemic period, with a higher prevalence in the Northeast (75.1%). Conclusion(s): During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the data demonstrate a likely change in the HNC treatment protocol in Brazil.