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. 2020 Aug:149:89-93.
doi: 10.1016/j.radonc.2020.04.061. Epub 2020 May 12.

COVID-19 outbreak and cancer radiotherapy disruption in Italy: Survey endorsed by the Italian Association of Radiotherapy and Clinical Oncology (AIRO)

Affiliations

COVID-19 outbreak and cancer radiotherapy disruption in Italy: Survey endorsed by the Italian Association of Radiotherapy and Clinical Oncology (AIRO)

Barbara Alicja Jereczek-Fossa et al. Radiother Oncol. 2020 Aug.

Abstract

Italy experienced one of the world's deadliest COVID-19 outbreaks and healthcare systems had to instantly reorganise activity. The Italian Radiation Oncology Departments adapted numerous solutions to minimize the disruptions. Information technologies, treatment prioritization and implementation of hypofractionation and protection procedures allowed balancing between cancer patient care and patient/healthcare workers safety.

Keywords: AIRO (Italian Association of Radiotherapy and Clinical Oncology); COVID-19; Italy; Radiation oncology; Survey.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Total number of COVID-19 positive patients in the Radiation Oncology Departments (a), units of personnel in quarantine (any COVID-19 related absence from work) (b) units of personnel dedicated to COVID-19 emergency (outside Radiation Oncology Department) (c) and RT centres with more than 10% activity reduction (d) by region. NB: Light gray means no cases. In case 5 to 10 or more than 11 were selected, the lower limit of the interval was considered as actual number of cases, so the map underestimates the total number of cases. Fig. 1 has been created using Microsoft Excel Bing Maps, Bing © GeoNames, HERE, MSFT.

Comment in

  • COVID-19 safe and fully operational radiotherapy: An AIRO survey depicting the Italian landscape at the dawn of phase 2.
    Jereczek-Fossa BA, Pepa M, Zaffaroni M, Marvaso G, Bruni A, Buglione di Monale E Bastia M, Catalano G, Filippi AR, Franco P, Gambacorta MA, Genovesi D, Iatì G, Magli A, Marafioti L, Meattini I, Merlotti A, Mignogna M, Musio D, Pacelli R, Pergolizzi S, Tombolini V, Trovo M, Leonardi MC, Ricardi U, Magrini SM, Corvò R, Donato V; on the behalf of AIRO (Italian Association of Radiotherapy and Clinical Oncology). Jereczek-Fossa BA, et al. Radiother Oncol. 2021 Feb;155:120-122. doi: 10.1016/j.radonc.2020.09.049. Epub 2020 Oct 14. Radiother Oncol. 2021. PMID: 33065185 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

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