Effect of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on breast cancer stage at diagnosis

Authors : Murat Bulut ÖZKAN, Murat Baki YILDIRIM, Ramazan TOPCU, Veysel Barış TURHAN

Pages : 62-66

Doi:10.32322/jhsm.1005604

View : 15 | Download : 7

Publication Date : 2022-01-17

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Objective: We aimed to research the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on breast cancer stages at the time of diagnosis. Material and Method: The data of female patients over 18 who underwent breast surgery and sentinel lymph node sampling for malignancy between 01.06.2019 and 31.11.2019 with between 01.06.2020 and 31.11.2020 were analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups as before and during the pandemic. Results: Data of 55 patients in total were reached, of which 31 were diagnosed before the pandemic and 24 after the pandemic. There is no significant difference between the two groups in terms of age. Average tumor size is 3.42±2.00 cm, and 18 patient insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(32.7%); has positive sentinel lymph node biopsy insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(SLNB);. In before pandemic group insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Group 1); SLNB positivity rate is only 25.8% insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n=8); but in during pandemic group insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Group 2); this rate reaches 41.7% insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n=10);, but this is not statistically significantinsert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p=0.214);. While the tumor size of the patients in Group 1 was 3.35±2.25 cm, it was 3.51±1.67 cm in Group 2. Still, no statistically significant difference was observed insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p=0.141);. Conclusion: As a result of our study, although statistically insignificant, an increase in tumor sizes and positive lymph node numbers was detected. We predict that statistically significant results will be obtained in studies with a larger number of cases.
Keywords : covid 19, breast cancer, sentinel lymp node, prognosis