Head and neck radiotherapy amid the COVID-19 pandemic: practice recommendations of the Italian Association of Radiotherapy and Clinical Oncology (AIRO)
Articolo
Data di Pubblicazione:
2020
Citazione:
Head and neck radiotherapy amid the COVID-19 pandemic: practice recommendations of the Italian Association of Radiotherapy and Clinical Oncology (AIRO) / D. Alterio, S. Volpe, A. Bacigalupo, P. Bonomo, F. De Felice, F. Dionisi, I. D'Onofrio, E. D'Angelo, A. Di Rito, G. Fanetti, P. Franco, M. Maddalo, A. Merlotti, F. Micciché, E. Orlandi, F. Paiar, S. Ursino, M. Pepa, R. Corvò, N. Di Muzio, S. Magrini, E. Russi, G. Sanguineti, B. Jereczek-Fossa, V. Donato, D. Musio. - In: MEDICAL ONCOLOGY. - ISSN 1357-0560. - 37:10(2020), pp. 85.1-85.9. [10.1007/s12032-020-01409-2]
Abstract:
Management of patients with head and neck cancers (HNCs) is challenging for the Radiation Oncologist, especially in the COVID-19 era. The Italian Society of Radiotherapy and Clinical Oncology (AIRO) identified the need of practice recommendations on logistic issues, treatment delivery and healthcare personnel’s protection in a time of limited resources. A panel of 15 national experts on HNCs completed a modified Delphi process. A five-point Likert scale was used; the chosen cut-offs for strong agreement and agreement were 75% and 66%, respectively. Items were organized into two sections: (1) general recommendations (10 items) and (2) special recommendations (45 items), detailing a set of procedures to be applied to all specific phases of the Radiation Oncology workflow. The distribution of facilities across the country was as follows: 47% Northern, 33% Central and 20% Southern regions. There was agreement or strong agreement across the majority (93%) of proposed items including treatment strategies, use of personal protection devices, set-up modifications and follow-up re-scheduling. Guaranteeing treatment delivery for HNC patients is well-recognized in Radiation Oncology. Our recommendations provide a flexible tool for management both in the pandemic and post-pandemic phase of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Tipologia IRIS:
01 - Articolo su periodico
Keywords:
Clinical practice recommendations; COVID-19 pandemic; Head and neck cancers; Radiation oncology; COVID-19; Coronavirus Infections; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Humans; Italy; Medical Oncology; Pandemics; Pneumonia, Viral; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Radiotherapy; SARS-CoV-2; Societies, Medical; Betacoronavirus
Elenco autori:
D. Alterio, S. Volpe, A. Bacigalupo, P. Bonomo, F. De Felice, F. Dionisi, I. D'Onofrio, E. D'Angelo, A. Di Rito, G. Fanetti, P. Franco, M. Maddalo, A. Merlotti, F. Micciché, E. Orlandi, F. Paiar, S. Ursino, M. Pepa, R. Corvò, N. Di Muzio, S. Magrini, E. Russi, G. Sanguineti, B. Jereczek-Fossa, V. Donato, D. Musio
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