Management and Prognosis of Head and Neck Cancer Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Authors

  • Giuliano Lozer Bruneli Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (Ufes), Centro de Ciências da Saúde (CCS), Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Odontológicas. Vitória (ES), Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2277-5854
  • Priscila Marinho de Abreu Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (Ufes), Centro de Ciências da Saúde  (CCS), Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Odontológicas e Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia. Vitória (ES), Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6453-7171
  • Jhully Oliveira Ferreira Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (Ufes), Centro de Ciências da Saúde (CCS), Departamento de Patologia. Vitória (ES), Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8281-2173
  • Camila Batista Daniel Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (Ufes), Centro de Ciências da Saúde (CCS), Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia. Vitória (ES), Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3992-5986
  • Jéssica Graça Sant'Anna Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (Ufes), Centro de Ciências da Saúde (CCS), Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia. Vitória (ES), Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9759-2978
  • Roberta Ferreira Ventura Mendes Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (Ufes), Centro de Ciências da Saúde (CCS), Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia. Vitória (ES), Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2075-1579
  • Brena Ramos Athaydes Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (Ufes), Centro de Ciências da Saúde (CCS), Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia e Departamento de Patologia. Vitória (ES), Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8954-771X
  • Mariane Vedovatti Monfardini Sagrillo Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (Ufes), Centro de Ciências da Saúde (CCS), Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia. Vitória (ES), Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2284-5683
  • José Roberto Vasconcelos de Podestá Hospital Santa Rita de Cássia, Serviço de Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço, Programa de Prevenção e Detecção Precoce do Câncer Bucal. Vitória (ES), Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6995-955X
  • Marco Homero de Sá Santos Hospital Universitário Cassiano Antônio Moraes – EBSERH. Vitória (ES), Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2156-3545
  • Jeferson Lenzi Hospital Santa Rita de Cássia, Serviço de Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço, Programa de Prevenção e Detecção Precoce do Câncer Bucal. Vitória (ES), Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9407-0784
  • Evandro Duccini de Souza Hospital Santa Rita de Cássia, Serviço de Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço, Programa de Prevenção e Detecção Precoce do Câncer Bucal. Vitória (ES), Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4272-6091
  • Ricardo Mai Rocha Hospital Santa Rita de Cássia, Serviço de Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço, Programa de Prevenção e Detecção Precoce do Câncer Bucal. Hospital Universitário Cassiano Antônio Moraes – EBSERH. Vitória (ES), Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5283-6860
  • Regina de Pinho Keller Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (Ufes), Departamento de Engenharia Ambiental. Vitória (ES), Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9163-0715
  • Liliana Cruz Spano Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (Ufes), Centro de Ciências da Saúde (CCS), Departamento de Patologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Infectologia. Vitória (ES), Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6205-6988
  • Sandra Ventorin von Zeidler Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (Ufes), Centro de Ciências da Saúde (CCS), Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Odontológicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia e Departamento de Patologia. Vitória (ES), Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8897-5747

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32635/2176-9745.RBC.2025v71n2.5046

Keywords:

COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Head and Neck Neoplasms, Carcinoma, Squamous Cell, Survival

Abstract

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic raised the necessity to implement measures for managing patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Objective: To evaluate the measures adopted by an oncological hub during the COVID-19 pandemic and investigate whether the SARS-CoV-2 infection and viral load changed the outcomes of head and neck cancer patients. Method: Patients were tested for SARS-CoV-2 using real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and rapid COVID-19 antigen testing before surgery between October 2020 and November 2021. Clinical outcomes were compared by the presence of SARS-CoV-2 infection, considering prognostic factors for HNSCC patients, such as preexisting comorbidities and tumor staging. Results: Of the 194 patients recruited, 99 cases confirmed diagnoses of HNSCC and underwent surgical treatment. The most frequent comorbidities were arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus. The oral cavity and larynx were the most affected anatomical sites, 51% and 33%, respectively. A total of 61.6% of the cases were classified as T3/T4 and 53.4% did not have lymph node involvement. Presence of comorbidities and lymph node metastasis were associated with reduced survival. Of the 99 cases confirmed, 8.1% (8/99) were infected with SARS-CoV-2, but no differences in overall survival according to SARS-CoV-2 infection (p = 0.086) were noticed and the viral load was not associated with vital status (p = 0.456). Conclusion: The presence of SARS-CoV-2 infection did not influence overall survival in head and neck SCC patients. This is the first study to describe these findings in an oncological care center in the State of Espírito Santo, Brazil.

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Published

2025-05-07

How to Cite

1.
Bruneli GL, Abreu PM de, Ferreira JO, Daniel CB, Sant’Anna JG, Mendes RFV, Ramos Athaydes B, Sagrillo MVM, Podestá JRV de, Santos MH de S, Lenzi J, Souza ED de, Rocha RM, Keller R de P, Spano LC, von Zeidler SV. Management and Prognosis of Head and Neck Cancer Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Rev. Bras. Cancerol. [Internet]. 2025 May 7 [cited 2025 Dec. 5];71(2):e-125046. Available from: https://rbc.inca.gov.br/index.php/revista/article/view/5046

Issue

Vol. 71 No. 2 (2025): Apr./May/June

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ORIGINAL ARTICLE

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