Diagnostic pathway and stage migration of sinonasal malignancies in the era of the COVID‐19 pandemic

Meerwein, Christian M.; Stadler, Thomas M.; Balermpas, Panagiotis; Soyka, Michael B.; Holzmann, David

OBJECTIVES: The COVID‐19 pandemic bears the risk of delayed cancer diagnoses. METHODS: Study on the diagnostic pathway of sinonasal malignancies during the COVID‐19 pandemic. RESULTS: Median time from first symptom to treatment initiation was not increased during the pandemic: 137 days (interquartile range [IQR] 104‐193) vs 139 days (IQR 103‐219) (P = .60). Median time from first appointment at our institution to treatment initiation was even reduced in 2020: 18 days (IQR 11‐25) vs 11 days (IQR 7‐17) (P = .02). A trend toward advanced tumor stages during the pandemic was seen: 11/30 patients (36.7%) ≥ stage 4 in 2018 to 2019 vs 12/19 patients (63.2%) ≥ stage 4 in 2020 (P = .064). CONCLUSION: Both, time to diagnosis and time to treatment initiation were similar during the pandemic. However, a higher proportion of advanced tumors stages was observed. Despite the pandemic, we provided a swift diagnostic workflow, including a virtual tumor board decision and a prompt treatment initiation. Level of Evidence: 4.