Wai Lup Wong1, Peter Ross2, Kevin Peters3, Marion Frenz2, Tong Hai4, Alex Ridgeon5, Ralph Toop6, Peter Strouhal7, Jamshed Bomanji8. 1. PET CT Department, Strickland Scanner Centre Mount Vernon Hospital, Northwood. 2. Department of Management, Birkbeck University of London, London. 3. NHS England and NHS Improvement (Yorkshire and The Humber Specialised Commissioning Team), Quarry House, Leeds. 4. Department of Mathematical Science, Faculty of Social Science, University of Southampton, Southampton. 5. Specialised Commissioning, NHS England and NHS Improvement (East of England), Victoria House, Capital Park, Fulbourne, Cambridge. 6. InHealth Beechwood Hall Kingsmead Road, High Wycombe. 7. Alliance Medical Ltd, Iceni Centre, Warwick Technology Park, Warwick. 8. Institute of Nuclear Medicine, University College Hospital, London, UK.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to examine the impact of the first wave of COVID-19 on National Health Service (NHS) 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography computed tomography (FDG PET-CT) scanning activity across England. METHODS: Monthly FDG PET-CT scanning activity was collected from 41/48 NHS England provider sites. Data from 31/41 sites were stratified by nononcology/oncology, cancer type, with lung cancer and lymphoma split into specific indications, turn-around times and delays due to radiotracer. RESULTS: In April and May 2020, a 32 and 31% decrease in activity was observed, a larger decrease for noncancer compared with cancer FDG PET-CT. In June 2020, activity started to recover with 6% fewer scans recorded compared with June 2019. Of the six most common indications, lung and oesophageal cancer had the largest decrease in activity and slowest recovery. Lymphoma and melanoma showed the smallest decrease and fastest recovery. Lung cancer scans for initial diagnosis/staging saw the largest fall and slowest recovery compared with scans for known lung cancer. There was no percentage increase in overall turn-around time compared with the same months in 2019, and no increase in turn-around time of more than 7 working days due to FDG supply during April and May 2020 compared with the 3 previous months. CONCLUSIONS: There is no correlation between FDG PET-CT activity (fall and recovery) in England and the ability to provide the service by NHS England. It most likely reflects a combination of changes in health-seeking behaviour, NHS health policy and a decrease in the use of investigations that carry a high risk of COVID-19 transmission.
PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to examine the impact of the first wave of COVID-19 on National Health Service (NHS) 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography computed tomography (FDG PET-CT) scanning activity across England. METHODS: Monthly FDG PET-CT scanning activity was collected from 41/48 NHS England provider sites. Data from 31/41 sites were stratified by nononcology/oncology, cancer type, with lung cancer and lymphoma split into specific indications, turn-around times and delays due to radiotracer. RESULTS: In April and May 2020, a 32 and 31% decrease in activity was observed, a larger decrease for noncancer compared with cancerFDG PET-CT. In June 2020, activity started to recover with 6% fewer scans recorded compared with June 2019. Of the six most common indications, lung and oesophageal cancer had the largest decrease in activity and slowest recovery. Lymphoma and melanoma showed the smallest decrease and fastest recovery. Lung cancer scans for initial diagnosis/staging saw the largest fall and slowest recovery compared with scans for known lung cancer. There was no percentage increase in overall turn-around time compared with the same months in 2019, and no increase in turn-around time of more than 7 working days due to FDG supply during April and May 2020 compared with the 3 previous months. CONCLUSIONS: There is no correlation between FDG PET-CT activity (fall and recovery) in England and the ability to provide the service by NHS England. It most likely reflects a combination of changes in health-seeking behaviour, NHS health policy and a decrease in the use of investigations that carry a high risk of COVID-19 transmission.