Abstract
PurposeTo investigate whether a telemedicine service (TMS) carried out during the Covid-19 pandemic impacted on management of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC).MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the number and the findings of outpatient visits in DTC subjects referred between March 11, 2020, and May 31, 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic at the Radiometabolic Unit of the University of Naples Federico II. Office visits scheduled in March and May 2020 were converted in teleconsultation reaching all patients planned for an in-ward access to advise them to use the TMS for all clinical necessity. The number and the findings of DTC patients evaluated by in-ward access in the corresponding period of 2019 were also assessed for direct comparison.ResultsThe number of outpatient visits performed by TMS during the pandemic (n = 445) and by in-ward access in the corresponding period of 2019 (n = 525) was comparable with only 15% of outpatient evaluations missed.ConclusionsOur findings demonstrate the utility of telemedicine tools to avoid the potential negative impact of interruption or postponement of diagnostic and/or therapeutic procedures. Therefore, investments in medical network system development, including the implementation of telehealth approaches, should be encouraged at national and international levels.
Highlights
From March 11, 2020, when the World Health Organization characterized the novel coronavirus Covid-19 outbreak as a pandemic, healthcare services were suddenly called to deal with a number of new critical issues [1]
Patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) have an excellent overall prognosis [5], distant metastases occur in 10% or even less of DTC patients and require an early and appropriate treatment to improve their prognosis and need an active surveillance between treatment courses to detect progression and potential complications
The aim of the present study was to analyze whether a telemedicine service (TMS) carried out in our department during lockdown imposed by the Italian Government from March 11, 2020, to May 31, 2020, impacted the management of DTC patients, in comparison with data obtained during the same period of the year 2019 that were obtained only by in-ward access of outpatient examinations
Summary
From March 11, 2020, when the World Health Organization characterized the novel coronavirus Covid-19 outbreak as a pandemic, healthcare services were suddenly called to deal with a number of new critical issues [1]. As regards to oncological units, the need to maintain the planned. In order to maintain the medical assistance of this patient’s category, a telemedicine service (TMS) by converting scheduled office visits to teleconsultations has been set up in medical units all over the world [6]. These visits can be conducted on distance, limiting both travel and exposure and permitting uninterrupted care of patients, and were proposed for the management of thyroid cancer in nuclear medicine departments [7].
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