Radiotherapy based management during Covid-19 pandemic – A systematic review of presented consensus and guidelines

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.critrevonc.2021.103402Get rights and content

Highlights

  • Using hypofractionated regiments for therapeutic/palliative indications.

  • Delaying radiotherapy for several weeks or until pandemic over.

  • Omitting RT by replacement of alternative therapies or active surveillance.

  • Applying safer patients’ setup and preparation protocols.

  • Developing telemedicine/telehealth service.

Abstract

Treatment management of cancer patients in the radiation oncology departments during the current COVID-19 pandemic is challenging. A systematic review of published consensus/guidelines on the role of radiotherapy prioritization, suggested treatment protocols, and set up management was undertaken based on the PRISMA protocol and through PubMed/PMC, Scopus, Google Scholar, Web of Science databases until 01/20/2021. One hundred and sixty-eight publications or regional consensus were included. Summary of recommendations contained: (1) using hypo-fractionated (Hypo-F) regimens for therapeutic/palliative indications, (2) delaying radiotherapy for several weeks or until pandemic over, (3) omitting radiotherapy by replacement of alternative therapies or active surveillance, (4) applying safer patients' setup and preparation protocols, (5) developing telemedicine/telehealth service. To conclude, it is essential to carefully weigh the risk of exposure to COVID-19 infection and the benefit of treating cancer patients during the pandemic. Trying to have a global guideline facing this or any other probable crisis is crucial for health care service.

Keywords

Radiotherapy
COVID-19
Oncology
Pandemic

Cited by (0)

Zahra Siavashpour: Ph.D. of Medical Radiation Engineering, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran. Assistant professor of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, since 2018-present. Ten years of experience as a medical physicist in radiotherapy and brachytherapy departments and five years of health physicist officer experience. Three years of experience in eye plaque brachytherapy. Have been elected and member of the National Elite Foundation of Iran, 2018-Present. ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-000 3-4 061-099X

Neda Goharpey: Master of Science, medical physics, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran. The medical physicist of the radiation oncology department of Shohada-e Tajrish hospital, from September 2016 until the present. Responsible for developing and maintaining quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) programs of radiation therapy modalities; also preparing and validating computerized treatment plans (both 3D CRT and advanced techniques) and calculations of patient dose.

Mosayyeb Mobasheri: Ph.D. of medical physics, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.

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