What is Elective Oncologic Surgery in the Time of COVID-19? A Literature Review of the Impact of Surgical Delays on Outcomes in Patients with Cancer
Nancy Klauber DeMore, Stephen J. Savage, Aaron Lesher, Andrea M. Abbott, Antonio Giordano, Biqi Zhang, David A. Mahvi, David M. Mahvi, Denise I. Garcia, Denise Carneiro‐Pla, E. Ramsay Camp, Julie B. Siegel, Mahsa Javid, Nancy Klauber DeMore, Sara Giordano, Whitney A. Spannuth Graybill
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has spread beyond those infected with SARS-CoV-2. Its widespread consequences have affected cancer patients whose surgeries may be delayed in order to minimize exposure and conserve resources. METHODS: Experts in each surgical oncology subspecialty were selected to perform a review of the relevant literature. Articles were obtained through PubMed searches in each cancer subtype using the following terms: delay to surgery, time to surgery, outcomes, and survival. RESULTS: Delays in surgery > 4 weeks in breast cancer, ductal carcinoma in situ, T1 pancreatic cancer, ovarian cancer, and pediatric osteosarcoma, negatively impacted survival. Studies on hepatocellular cancer, colon cancer, and melanoma (Stage I) demonstrated reduced survival with delays > 3 months. CONCLUSION: . Conversely, other cancers such as gastric cancer, advanced melanoma and pancreatic cancer, well-differentiated thyroid cancer, and several genitourinary cancers demonstrated no significant outcome differences with surgical delays.