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Advancing head and neck cancer following the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic

Part of: JLO Coronavirus Collection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 April 2022

W Flynn Open the ORCID record for W Flynn [Opens in a new window] ,
R Maqsood ,
T Maseland ,
J Montgomery Open the ORCID record for J Montgomery [Opens in a new window]  and
C Douglas Open the ORCID record for C Douglas [Opens in a new window]
W Flynn*
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
R Maqsood
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
T Maseland
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
J Montgomery
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
C Douglas
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Mr W Flynn, ENT Department, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, 1345 Govan Road, GlasgowG51 4TF, Scotland, UK E-mail: wpflynn@doctors.org.uk
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Abstract

Objective

Delay in the diagnosis of head and neck cancer can result in significant excess morbidity and mortality. How the pandemic has affected patient presentation in Scotland is unknown.

Method

This retrospective cohort study compared all presentations of head and neck cancer between June and October of 2019 with the same period following the peak of the pandemic in 2020 in West Scotland, a region populated by 2.5 million people.

Results

A total of 528 patients met our inclusion criteria. Compared with 2019, patients in 2020 were more likely to present with a higher American Joint Committee on Cancer stage (odds ratio, 1.67 (95 per cent confidence interval = 1.20 to 2.31); p = 0.002), a longer preceding symptom duration (odds ratio, 2.03 (95 per cent confidence interval = 1.44 to 2.87; p < 0.001) and to have an emergency presentation (odds ratio, 2.53, (95 per cent confidence interval = 1.15 to 5.55; p = 0.017).

Conclusion

Patients are presenting later with more advanced head and neck cancer following the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

Keywords

Head And Neck NeoplasmsCOVID-19Otolaryngology
Type
Main Article
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 136 , Issue 11 , November 2022 , pp. 1118 - 1124
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of J.L.O. (1984) LIMITED

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Footnotes

Mr W Flynn takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

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