DIAGNOSIS OF HEAD AND NECK SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A RETROSPECTIVE CASE-CONTROL STUDY

OBJECTIVE: To compare the number of new head and neck cancer diagnoses, sociodemographic data, and tumor characteristics diagnosed before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. STUDY DESIGN: All cases were diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth, oropharynx, hypopharynx, or larynx from April/2019 to March/2020 (Control group), and all cases diagnosed from April/2020 to March/2021 (Test group) were included. Data were obtained through medical records. RESULTS: Between April/2020 and March/2021, 39 new cases were diagnosed. During the same period of the previous year, 61 new cases were diagnosed. A 36.04% reduction was found in new diagnosed cases during the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of days elapsed between diagnosis and the first treatment was lower in the test group (76.45±40.75) when compared to the control group (91.46±87.98), but there was no statistical difference (p=0.211). Sociodemographic data and tumor characteristics were similar in both groups, except for lymph node involvement, which was higher in the COVID-19 group (p=0.043). CONCLUSION: There was a reduction in the number of patients who sought care for the diagnosis of head and neck cancer in the period of greater restriction imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the diagnosed cases presented lymph node metastasis in more advanced stages.