Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Surgical Management of Head and Neck Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers in a Maxillofacial Center of Cluj-Napoca.

Autor:	Roman RC; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Implantology, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400347 Cluj-Napoca, Romania., Faur CI; Department of Oral Radiology, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400347 Cluj-Napoca, Romania., Gordan E; Faculty of Dental Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400347 Cluj-Napoca, Romania., Văleanu M; Department of Statistics, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400347 Cluj-Napoca, Romania., Moldovan MA; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Implantology, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400347 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Jazyk:	angličtina
Zdroj:	Journal of clinical medicine [J Clin Med] 2024 Jul 04; Vol. 13 (13). Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Jul 04.
DOI:	10.3390/jcm13133934
Abstrakt:	Background : The COVID-19 era has been a bleak period for both cancer and non-cancer patients, with delayed non-emergency treatments, such as for non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC). This study aimed to evaluate how the treatment of NMSC patients was influenced by the management of the COVID-19 pandemic in an Eastern European Maxillofacial Surgery center. Materials and Methods : A total of 176 patients with a histopathological diagnosis of head and neck NMSC who were surgically treated in Cluj-Napoca Emergency County Hospital between 2016 and 2022 were included in this study, and divided into two samples, pre-pandemic (2016-2019) and COVID-19 (2020-2022) periods. Results : The pandemic presented with a decrease of 46.15% in patients' hospitalization, with wealthy and educated patients being prevalent. Even if the waiting time for surgery was increased, the stage of cancer and preference method for reconstruction did not differ. Despite the lower addressability of NMSC patients during the pandemic, there were no changes in surgical treatment. Conclusions : During COVID-19, the number of patients was reduced, with a longer waiting time for surgery, but without any changes in tumor stage and treatment preferences. However, the benefit of removing a cancer tumor is higher compared to the risk of developing COVID-19 infection during hospitalization. Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Databáze:	MEDLINE
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