Did the COVID-19 pandemic have an effect on oral cancer staging? A single-centre retrospective observational study.
Br Dent J
; 2024 Feb 07.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38326460
ABSTRACT
Introduction This study aims to assess if the COVID-19 pandemic impacted upon oral cancer staging in a single centre in the UK.Materials and methods Data were collected from the head and neck cancer database of a teaching hospital in London. Oral cancer diagnosis and staging in the peak period of the pandemic (March 2020-2021) were assessed against the one-year period (March 2019-2020) before the pandemic.Results In total, 25 cases of oral cancer were diagnosed in the pre-COVID-19 group compared to 26 in the COVID-19 cohort. Referrals from dentists accounted for 30% of cases of confirmed oral cancer in the COVID-19 class in comparison to 48% the year prior. Higher rates of overall TNM (tumour, lymph node, metastasis) staging at level 4a and above were observed in the COVID-19 cohort at 68% in comparison to 48% the year before.Conclusion Marginal non-statistically significant differences were noted of worsening stages of oral cancer presentations in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in this unit. Long-term studies on the outcomes of those diagnosed with oral cancer during the pandemic at a regional and national level will facilitate greater analysis on the impact the pandemic had on this cohort.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Tipo de estudo:
Observational_studies
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Br Dent J
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Reino Unido