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Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic on Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer.

Authors :: Oppolzer IA
Schnabel MJ
Hammer S
Zilles H
Haas M
Goßler C
Müller MR
Burger M
Gierth M
Source :: Urologia internationalis [Urol Int] 2024 Oct 03, pp. 1-9. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Oct 03.
Publication Year :: 2024
Publisher :: Ahead of Print
Abstract: Introduction: The aim of this study was to prove if the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic resulted in a delay in diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer (PC).<br />Methods: A monocentric, retrospective analysis was conducted at a university cancer center. Included were all patients with untreated PC diagnosed between January 2019 and December 2021. The observation covered 22 months of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and 14 months preceding it.<br />Results: Nine hundred sixty-nine men prior (T0) and 1,343 during the pandemic (T1) were included. Mean age was 68.0 (SD 8.2). Median initial prostate-specific antigen was 8.1 ng/mL (T0) and 7.9 ng/mL (T1, p = 0.288). Time from biopsy to tumor board (T0: 1.3 months vs. T1: 0.9 months, p = 0.001), to staging (T0: 1.1 months vs. T1: 0.75 months, p = 0.707), and to therapy (T0: 3.0 months vs. T1: 2.0 months, p < 0.001) was shortened during the pandemic. Classified by d'Amico, a significant shift toward higher risk groups was seen (p = 0.024). Local staging showed an insignificant increase in locally advanced PCs. Metastatic diseases decreased from 10.3% to 8.9% (p = 0.433). Pathological staging showed pT3+ in 44.4% versus 44.7% (p = 0.565) and pN+ in 9.9% versus 9.6% (p = 0.899).<br />Conclusion: Regarding the diagnosis and treatment of PC, we could not demonstrate any delays due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.<br /> (© 2024 The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.)