Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic on the Management of Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Worldwide, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) significantly increases mortality and morbidity. The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has had a considerable impact on healthcare systems all around the world, having a significant effect on planned patient activ...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Maria Guarino, Valentina Cossiga, Mario Capasso, Chiara Mazzarelli, Filippo Pelizzaro, Rodolfo Sacco, Francesco Paolo Russo, Alessandro Vitale, Franco Trevisani, Giuseppe Cabibbo, on behalf of the Associazione Italiana per lo Studio del Fegato (AISF) HCC Special Interest Group
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-07-01
Series:Journal of Clinical Medicine
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/11/15/4475
Description
Summary:Worldwide, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) significantly increases mortality and morbidity. The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has had a considerable impact on healthcare systems all around the world, having a significant effect on planned patient activity and established care pathways, in order to meet the difficult task of the global pandemic. Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are considered a particularly susceptible population and conceivably at increased risk for severe COVID-19 because of two combined risk factors: chronic advanced liver disease and HCC itself. In these challenging times, it is mandatory to reshape clinical practice in a prompt way to preserve the highest standards of patient care and safety. However, due to the stay-at-home measures instituted to stop the spread of COVID-19, HCC surveillance has incurred a dramatic drop, and care for HCC patients has been rearranged by refining the algorithm for HCC treatment to the COVID-19 pandemic, permitting these patients to be safely managed by identifying those most at risk of neoplastic disease progression.
ISSN:2077-0383