Management changes for patients with endocrine-related cancers in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Endocr Relat Cancer
; 27(9): R357-R374, 2020 09.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-693491
ABSTRACT
Substantial management changes in endocrine-related malignancies have been required as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including a draconian reduction in the screening of asymptomatic subjects, delay in planned surgery and radiotherapy for primary tumors deemed to be indolent, and dose reductions and/or delays in initiation of some systemic therapies. An added key factor has been a patient-initiated delay in the presentation because of the fear of viral infection. Patterns of clinical consultation have changed, including a greater level of virtual visits, physical spacing, masking, staffing changes to ensure a COVID-free population and significant changes in patterns of family involvement. While this has occurred to improve safety from COVID-19 infection, the implications for cancer outcomes have not yet been defined. Based on prior epidemics and financial recessions, it is likely that delayed presentation and treatment of high-grade malignancy will be associated with worse cancer outcomes. Cancer patients are also at increased risk from COVID-19 infection compared to the general population. Pandemic management strategies for patients with tumors of breast, prostate, thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal gland are reviewed.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Pneumonia, Viral
/
Infection Control
/
Endocrine Gland Neoplasms
/
Practice Guidelines as Topic
/
Coronavirus Infections
/
Pandemics
/
Patient Care
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Endocr Relat Cancer
Journal subject:
Endocrinology
/
Neoplasms
Year:
2020
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
ERC-20-0229
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