Delay in Diagnosis and Treatment of Primary Bone Tumors during COVID-19 Pandemic in Poland.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all of the medical specialties, including orthopedic oncology. Therefore, the aim of the study was to assess how it influenced the diagnostic and therapeutic processes for patients with bone neoplasms.

Methods

We evaluated 87 patients treated due for bone neoplasms before (Group I, n = 36) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (Group II, n = 51). A delay in diagnosis was defined as the period between the initial clinical symptoms and the date of referral to an oncology center. The patients from Group II were asked to complete a short questionnaire regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results

The median general delay in diagnosis before the pandemic was 7 months, while during the pandemic, it was 10 months (p =

SUBMITTER: Kotrych D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9776000 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature