REVIEW OF LUNG CANCER PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS AND TREATMENT STRATEGIES IN THE PANDEMIC COVID-19 YEAR Treated at the University Clinic of Radiotherapy and Oncology in Skopje
Journal
Prilozi (Makedonska akademija na naukite i umetnostite. Oddelenie za medicinski nauki)
Date Issued
2023-01
Author(s)
Dragan Jakimovki
Vladimir Ristovski
Abstract
Introduction: It is estimated that delays in diagnosis due to the COVID-19 pandemic in North Macedonia
could result in significant reductions in the number of potentially curative stages in lung cancer patients.
Purpose: The aim of this study was to review patient characteristics and treatment strategies of lung cancer
patients treated at the University Clinic of Radiotherapy and Oncology (UCRO), during the pre-pandemic
year (from 1 of March 2019 to the end of February 2020) and the pandemic year (from 1 of March 2020
to the end of February 2021).
Material: We analyzed eligible patients in the course of these two years according to patient characteristics
and treatment strategies.
Results: We have a record increasing in number of undefined lung cancer patients without any patho logical or histological conformation (11% pandemic year compared to 7% in the previous year), and an
increased number of stage III and IV NSCLC patients in the pandemic year 449 (87%), in comparison
to the pre-pandemic year of 403 (74%) patients. We have found a decreasing number of stage II NSCLC
patients in the pandemic year 82 (13%) compared to 141 (26%) patients in the pre-pandemic year. We also
note a decreasing number of patients with NSCLC operated on from 218 to 123 in the pandemic group.
Due to frequent check-ups for COVID-19, we report an increasing number of early stage IA and stage IB
patients, treated only by surgery.
Conclusions: The strict screening and admittance criteria put in place by hospitals during the pandemic
might have improved the oncology treatment course of lung cancer patients.
could result in significant reductions in the number of potentially curative stages in lung cancer patients.
Purpose: The aim of this study was to review patient characteristics and treatment strategies of lung cancer
patients treated at the University Clinic of Radiotherapy and Oncology (UCRO), during the pre-pandemic
year (from 1 of March 2019 to the end of February 2020) and the pandemic year (from 1 of March 2020
to the end of February 2021).
Material: We analyzed eligible patients in the course of these two years according to patient characteristics
and treatment strategies.
Results: We have a record increasing in number of undefined lung cancer patients without any patho logical or histological conformation (11% pandemic year compared to 7% in the previous year), and an
increased number of stage III and IV NSCLC patients in the pandemic year 449 (87%), in comparison
to the pre-pandemic year of 403 (74%) patients. We have found a decreasing number of stage II NSCLC
patients in the pandemic year 82 (13%) compared to 141 (26%) patients in the pre-pandemic year. We also
note a decreasing number of patients with NSCLC operated on from 218 to 123 in the pandemic group.
Due to frequent check-ups for COVID-19, we report an increasing number of early stage IA and stage IB
patients, treated only by surgery.
Conclusions: The strict screening and admittance criteria put in place by hospitals during the pandemic
might have improved the oncology treatment course of lung cancer patients.
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