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Review
. 2020 Jul;31(4):e72.
doi: 10.3802/jgo.2020.31.e72. Epub 2020 May 27.

Gynecologic oncology at the time of COVID-19 outbreak

Giorgio Bogani  1 , Claudia Brusadelli  2 , Rocco Guerrisi  2 , Salvatore Lopez  3 , Mauro Signorelli  3 , Antonino Ditto  3 , Francesco Raspagliesi  3
Affiliations
Review

Gynecologic oncology at the time of COVID-19 outbreak

Giorgio Bogani et al. J Gynecol Oncol. 2020 Jul.

Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) classified the novel coronavirus (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19]) as a global public health emergency. COVID-19 threatens to curtail patient access to evidence-based treatment. Medicine is changing, basically due to the limited available resources. In the field of gynecologic oncology, we have to re-design our treatments' paradigm. During COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, the highest priority is to achieve the maximum benefit from less demanding procedures. Extensive procedures should be avoided, in order to reduce hospitalization and postoperative events that might increase the in-hospital spread of the virus. There are ongoing concerns on the use of laparoscopic procedures, related to the possible contamination of the staff working in the operation room. Other minimally invasive techniques, including, vaginal surgery as well as robotic-assisted and isobaric procedures would be preferred over laparoscopy. A fair allocation of resources is paramount adequate treatments.

Keywords: COVID-19; Gynecologic Oncology; SARS-CoV-2; Surgery.

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Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Flow chart for patients with advanced ovarian cancer in pre and post COVID-19 outbreak.
COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2. Flow chart for patients with endometrial cancer in pre and post COVID-19 outbreak.
COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019; BLS, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3. Flow chart for patients with cervical cancer in pre and post COVID-19 outbreak.
COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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