PCN224 An Italian Experience: How the COVID-19 Era HAS Modified the Radiological Activity in a Cancer Hospital

ABSTRACT

Objectives: In this dramatic global health crisis, Radiology Units underwent some crucial changes in the daily activity organization to minimize the risk of COVID-19 contamination. This study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on the radiological activity of an Italian cancer hospital. Methods: Radiological procedures performed during the period of 8 weeks of Italian lockdown (9 March ̶ 3 May 2020) and the same 2019 period were retrospectively collected and compared. Results: During the lockdown period 4053 patients (for a total of 17793 accesses) attended our institution for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes, 942 out of total patients (1110 accesses) underwent at least one radiological procedure. The Radiology Unit reviewed 1438 outpatients scheduled for radiological examinations, of these 456 patients were postponed (-31,7%) 91.7% because not-urgent, 5.6% declined the appointment, and 1.3% for presence of flu-like symptoms. The maximum reduction of patient’s access, referred in particular to the second and third weeks of March. Conversely, in the following weeks a gradually progressive growth of patient’s access was observed week after week, probably as a consequence of progressive rearrangement of the activities. Compared to the same 2019 period, the number of procedures decreased respectively of 26.0% in CT, 34,7% in MRI, 34,8% in X-Ray and 58,5% in US. CT scans were subject to the least decrease compared to the other techniques due to their pivotal role in oncology. In the first month of lockdown the number of CT exams dropped by 29% compared to the average of 2019, while in April and May the reduction was of 23% and 18%, respectively. Conclusions: The COVID-19 outbreak has posed a great challenge to radiology, changing its activity with an overall reduction in the number of procedures performed with consequences still unknown in screening, early diagnosis and management of follow up that have been postponed.