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Two months of radiation oncology in the heart of Italian "red zone" during COVID-19 pandemic: paving a safe path over thin ice.
Buglione, Michela; Spiazzi, Luigi; Guerini, Andrea Emanuele; Barbera, Fernando; Pasinetti, Nadia; Pegurri, Ludovica; Triggiani, Luca; Tomasini, Davide; Greco, Diana; Costantino, Gianluca; Bragaglio, Alessandra; Bonometti, Nadia; Liccioli, Mara; Mascaro, Lorella; Alongi, Filippo; Magrini, Stefano Maria.
  • Buglione M; Department of Radiation Oncology, Brescia University, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Piazzale Spedali Civili 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy.
  • Spiazzi L; ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Department of Radiation Oncology, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, P.le Spedali Civili 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy.
  • Guerini AE; Department of Radiation Oncology, Brescia University, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Piazzale Spedali Civili 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy.
  • Barbera F; ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Department of Radiation Oncology, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, P.le Spedali Civili 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy.
  • Pasinetti N; Department of Radiation Oncology, Brescia University, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Piazzale Spedali Civili 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy. nadia.pasinetti@aol.com.
  • Pegurri L; ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Department of Radiation Oncology, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, P.le Spedali Civili 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy.
  • Triggiani L; Department of Radiation Oncology, Brescia University, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Piazzale Spedali Civili 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy.
  • Tomasini D; Department of Radiation Oncology, Brescia University, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Piazzale Spedali Civili 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy.
  • Greco D; ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Department of Radiation Oncology, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, P.le Spedali Civili 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy.
  • Costantino G; Department of Radiation Oncology, Brescia University, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Piazzale Spedali Civili 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy.
  • Bragaglio A; ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Department of Radiation Oncology, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, P.le Spedali Civili 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy.
  • Bonometti N; ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Department of Radiation Oncology, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, P.le Spedali Civili 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy.
  • Liccioli M; ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Department of Radiation Oncology, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, P.le Spedali Civili 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy.
  • Mascaro L; ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Department of Radiation Oncology, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, P.le Spedali Civili 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy.
  • Alongi F; Department of Radiation Oncology, Brescia University, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Piazzale Spedali Civili 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy.
  • Magrini SM; Department of Radiation Oncology, Brescia University, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Piazzale Spedali Civili 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy.
Radiat Oncol ; 15(1): 191, 2020 Aug 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-704646
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had an overwhelming impact on healthcare worldwide. Outstandingly, the aftermath on neoplastic patients is still largely unknown, and only isolated cases of COVID-19 during radiotherapy have been published. We will report the two-months experience of our Department, set in Lombardy "red-zone".

METHODS:

Data of 402 cancer patients undergoing active treatment from February 24 to April 24, 2020 were retrospectively reviewed; several indicators of the Department functioning were also analyzed.

RESULTS:

Dedicated measures allowed an overall limited reduction of the workload. Decrease of radiotherapy treatment number reached 17%, while the number of administration of systemic treatment and follow up evaluations kept constant. Conversely, new treatment planning faced substantial decline. Considering the patients, infection rate was 3.23% (13/402) and mortality 1.24% (5/402). Median age of COVID-19 patients was 69.7 years, the large majority were male and smokers (84.6%); lung cancer was the most common tumor type (61.5%), 84.6% of subjects were stage III-IV and 92.3% had comorbidities. Remarkably, 92.3% of the cases were detected before March 24. Globally, only 2.5% of ongoing treatments were suspended due to suspect or confirmed COVID-19 and 46.2% of positive patients carried on radiotherapy without interruption. Considering only the last month, infection rate among patients undergoing treatment precipitated to 0.43% (1/232) and no new contagions were reported within our staff.

CONCLUSIONS:

Although mortality rate in COVID-19 cancer patients is elevated, our results support the feasibility and safety of continuing anticancer treatment during SARS-Cov-2 pandemic by endorsing consistent preventive measures.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Pneumonia, Viral / Coronavirus Infections / Betacoronavirus / Neoplasms Type of study: Cohort study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study Limits: Aged / Female / Humans / Male Country/Region as subject: Europa Language: English Journal: Radiat Oncol Journal subject: Neoplasms / Radiotherapy Year: 2020 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S13014-020-01631-2

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Pneumonia, Viral / Coronavirus Infections / Betacoronavirus / Neoplasms Type of study: Cohort study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study Limits: Aged / Female / Humans / Male Country/Region as subject: Europa Language: English Journal: Radiat Oncol Journal subject: Neoplasms / Radiotherapy Year: 2020 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S13014-020-01631-2