Clinical Impact of SARS-CoV2 Pandemic in the Diagnosis of Early-Stage Thoracic Tumours

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Cancer healthcare has been affected by Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, interfering the normal function of oncology units and increasing diagnostic delay. Nevertheless, the rising incidence of respiratory infections led to an increase in medical consultations and chest imaging explorations. The aim of the study was to assess whether the increase in medical evaluations in the context of the pandemic led to an increase in the detection of early-stage thoracic tumours. Methods: We performed a retrospective single-institution study, collecting data from patients diagnosed with thoracic tumours between March, 1, 2020 and December, 31, 2021. We analysed their demographic and clinical data, symptoms at diagnosis and those who were diagnosed due to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Results: A total of 378 patients were analysed. Main results are shown in Table-1. Only 5.3% of newly diagnosed thoracic tumours were related to a suspected or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, these patients were not diagnosed at earlier stages (p = 0.414). When we evaluated symptoms at diagnosis, we found that asymptomatic patients presented in earlier stages (p <0.000, Figure-1), being the majority incidental findings during the follow-up of oncological and non-oncological pathologies. Regarding symptomatic patients, most presented as locally advanced or metastatic diseases and no changes have been observed in the pattern of presentation compared to studies prior to the pandemic. [Formula presented] Conclusions: COVID-19 pandemic did not seem to increase thoracic tumours diagnosis in our study. Lung cancer diagnosed in patients due to SARS-CoV-2 infection was not detected in earlier stages. Clinical presentation was similar to previous reported outside COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, we find that asymptomatic patients diagnosed incidentally presented more frequently in localized stages in comparison with symptomatic patients. [Formula presented] Keywords COVID19, Lung Cancer, Diagnosis