Head and neck cancer diagnoses and faster treatment initiation during COVID-19: Correspondence.

To the Editor,

We would like to share ideas on the publication “Fewer head and neck cancer (HNC) diagnoses and faster treatment initiation during COVID-19 in 2020: a nationwide population-based analysis [1].” Schoonbeek et al. noted that “the incidence of HNC during the Netherlands' first COVID-19 wave was significantly lower than … healthcare system, the standard treatment for HNC patients could be delivered within a shorter time interval [1].” We concur that there might be a change due to COVID-19. The change of incidence might be due to difficulty of healthcare facilities assessment during COVID-19 lockdown. Fewer diagnoses might be due to cancerous patients did not and could not access to medical care during COVID-19 outbreak period. This problem is seen in other setting [2]. Schoonbeek et al. mentioned for “significantly lower than expected [1].” It is interesting to know how expectation and how comparison can be performed

Authors contributions

RM 50% -

1a Substantial contributions to study conception and design.

1b. Substantial contributions to acquisition of data.

1c. Substantial contributions to analysis and interpretation of data.

2. Drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content.

3. Final approval of the version of the article to be published.

VW 50% -

1a Substantial contributions to study conception and design.

1b. Substantial contributions to acquisition of data.

1c. Substantial contributions to analysis and interpretation of data.

2. Drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content.

3. Final approval of the version of the article to be published.

Conflict of interest

The authors ask for waiving for any charge relating to this correspondence.