COVID-19 impact on the management of head and neck cancer: a French single-centre experience

Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented pressure on medical care resources and access. The aim of this study was to evaluate the time between the cancer symptoms’ onset and the first ENT specialist consultation for patients with head and neck (HNC) and salivary glands cancers during the pandemic. Methods The outcome measures evaluated were time to diagnosis, and time to treatment onset, as well as the COVID-19 impact on the proportion of both cancer patient groups: asymptomatic and advanced stages. This is single-centre retrospective cross-sectional study, including 473 patients who were treated in our University Hospital for HNC and salivary gland cancers, 171 in the COVID-19 pandemic group (C +), and 302 patients in the pre-pandemic group (C−). Results There were no significant between-group differences in the delays between cancer symptoms’ onset and ENT consultation, diagnostic workup and initial treatment onset, respectively. There was a suggestive reduction in the number of diagnostic panendoscopy performed in the C + group (62%) compared to the C- group (73%) as well as a suggestive increase in the delay to adjuvant radiotherapy onset. Conclusion The median delay between cancer symptoms’ onset and ENT specialist consultation was not affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in our centre. Our results suggest an 11% decrease in diagnostic procedures performed independently, a decrease in the delay between the ENT consultation and surgical treatment onset and a 10-day increase in the delay to adjuvant radiotherapy onset.