Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on management of surgically treated laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Authors

  • Alexander Lein Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
  • David T. Liu Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
  • Markus Haas Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
  • Almir Salkic Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Clinical Center Tuzla, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Azra Ibrisevic Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Clinical Center Tuzla, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Sabrina Uscuplic Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Clinical Center Tuzla, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Alen Harcinovic Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Clinical Center Tuzla, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Taria Brkic Friedrich-Alexander University, Erlangen-Nuernberg, Germany
  • Thomas Thurner Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
  • Faris F. Brkic Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17305/bb.2023.9481

Keywords:

COVID-19 pandemic, laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC), treatment modality, adjuvant therapy

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly impacted the treatment of cancer patients, particularly in terms of treatment choices. This study aimed to assess the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the management of surgically treated laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) patients, focusing specifically on changes in treatment modalities. We retrospectively analyzed the data from 102 patients who underwent surgical treatment for LSCC between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2021, at our tertiary medical center. Patient demographics, histological characteristics, and treatment modalities were extracted from electronic medical records and compared between two time periods: pre-COVID-19 and during COVID-19, marked by the introduction of the hospital entry triage. Of the total patients, 53 (52%) were in the pre-COVID-19 group, and 49 (48%) were in the COVID-19 group. No significant differences in patient characteristics at the initial work-up were observed between the two groups. However, a significant shift in treatment modalities was noted. Fewer patients received postoperative adjuvant therapy in the COVID-19 group (70.5%) compared to the pre-COVID-19 group (95.5%). Importantly, this change did not significantly impact the one-year overall survival (OS) rates. The reduction in the use of postoperative adjuvant therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic may be attributed to efforts to minimize hospital visits due to the risk of COVID-19 infection. Further research is warranted to validate these findings and to investigate the potential effects of such changes in treatment modalities on the long-term survival.

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Author Biographies

David T. Liu, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

MD, PhD; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

Markus Haas, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

MD, BA; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria 

Almir Salkic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Clinical Center Tuzla, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina

MD, PhD; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Clinical Center Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Azra Ibrisevic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Clinical Center Tuzla, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina

MD; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Clinical Center Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Sabrina Uscuplic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Clinical Center Tuzla, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina

MD; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Clinical Center Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Alen Harcinovic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Clinical Center Tuzla, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina

MD; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Clinical Center Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Taria Brkic, Friedrich-Alexander University, Erlangen-Nuernberg, Germany

Mrs; Friedrich-Alexander University, Erlangen-Nuernberg, Germany

Thomas Thurner, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

Mr; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria 

Faris F. Brkic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

MD, PhD; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria 

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on management of surgically treated laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Published

2023-08-26

How to Cite

1.
Lein A, Liu DT, Haas M, Salkic A, Ibrisevic A, Uscuplic S, Harcinovic A, Brkic T, Thurner T, Brkic FF. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on management of surgically treated laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Biomol Biomed [Internet]. 2023Aug.26 [cited 2023Sep.27];. Available from: https://www.bjbms.org/ojs/index.php/bjbms/article/view/9481

Issue

Section

Translational and Clinical Research