@article{Romics_L-2020_199792,
title = {A prospective cohort study of the safety of breast cancer surgery during COVID-19 pandemic in the West of Scotland},
author = {Romics, L. and Doughty, J. and Stallard, S. and Mansell, J. and Blackhall, V. and Lannigan, A. and Elgammal, S. and Reid, J. and McGuigan, M. and Savioli, F. and Tovey, S. and Murphy, D. and Reid, I. and Malyon, A. and McIlhenny, J. and Wilson, C.},
month = {nov},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Introduction: In order to minimise the risk of breast cancer patients for COVID-19 infection related morbidity and mortality prioritisation of care has utmost importance since the onset of the pandemic. However, COVID-19 related risk in patients undergoing breast cancer surgery has not been studied yet. We evaluated the safety of breast cancer surgery during COVID-19 pandemic in the West of Scotland region. Methods: A prospective cohort study of patients having breast cancer surgery was carried out in a geographical region during the first eight weeks of the hospital lockdown and outcomes were compared to the regional cancer registry data of pre-COVID-19 patients of the same units (n = 1415). Results: 188 operations were carried out in 179 patients. Tumour size was significantly larger in patients undergoing surgery during hospital lockdown than before (cT3-4: 16.8% vs. 7.4%; p &lt; 0.001; pT2 – pT4: 45.5% vs. 35.6%; p = 0.002). ER negative and HER-2 positive rate was significantly higher during lockdown (ER negative: 41.3% vs. 17%, p &lt; 0.001; HER-2 positive: 23.4% vs. 14.8%; p = 0.004). While breast conservation rate was lower during lockdown (58.6% vs. 65%; p &lt; 0.001), level II oncoplastic conservation was significantly higher in order to reduce mastectomy rate (22.8% vs. 5.6%; p &lt; 0.001). No immediate reconstruction was offered during lockdown. 51.2% had co-morbidity, and 7.8% developed postoperative complications in lockdown. There was no peri-operative COVID-19 infection related morbidity or mortality. Conclusion: breast cancer can be safely provided during COVID-19 pandemic in selected patients.},
pages = {1-6},
volume = {55},
journal = {The Breast},
publisher = {Elsevier},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.breast.2020.11.015},
}
