Pietro Pepe1, Ludovica Pepe2, Michele Pennisi2, Filippo Fraggetta3. 1. Urology Unit, Cannizzaro Hospital, Catania, Italy; piepepe@hotmail.com. 2. Urology Unit, Cannizzaro Hospital, Catania, Italy. 3. Pathology Unit, Cannizzaro Hospital, Catania, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM: To evaluate the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer (PCa) during 1 year of the COVID-19 pandemic. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The management of men with PCa during COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020-2021) was compared with the clinical activity of the 12 months before the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2019-2020). RESULTS: The number of clinical visits, prostate biopsy, and men enrolled in active surveillance was significantly lower during the COVID-19 pandemic (p<0.05); on the contrary, the number of cases with advanced (pT3b: 11.2 vs. 25.6%; nodal positive: 14.8 vs. 46.1%) and metastatic (5.9 vs. 9.3%) PCa increased. The number of open radical prostatectomies increased compared with the ones using a laparoscopic approach; moreover, more men were treated with external radiotherapy (25.1 vs. 54.2%). CONCLUSION: The guideline recommendations in the management of PCa should constantly adapt to the epidemiological evolution, but the overall cost of delayed diagnosis will increase in the near future.
BACKGROUND/AIM: To evaluate the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer (PCa) during 1 year of the COVID-19 pandemic. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The management of men with PCa during COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020-2021) was compared with the clinical activity of the 12 months before the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2019-2020). RESULTS: The number of clinical visits, prostate biopsy, and men enrolled in active surveillance was significantly lower during the COVID-19 pandemic (p<0.05); on the contrary, the number of cases with advanced (pT3b: 11.2 vs. 25.6%; nodal positive: 14.8 vs. 46.1%) and metastatic (5.9 vs. 9.3%) PCa increased. The number of open radical prostatectomies increased compared with the ones using a laparoscopic approach; moreover, more men were treated with external radiotherapy (25.1 vs. 54.2%). CONCLUSION: The guideline recommendations in the management of PCa should constantly adapt to the epidemiological evolution, but the overall cost of delayed diagnosis will increase in the near future.
Authors: Adam Ostrowski; Piotr Skrudlik; Filip Kowalski; Paweł Lipowski; Magdalena Ostrowska; Przemysław Adamczyk; Jan Adamowicz; Tomasz Drewa; Kajetan Juszczak Journal: Cent European J Urol Date: 2022-04-14