Daniela Alterio*1, Stefania Volpe*ⴕ1,2, Giulia Marvaso1,2, Irene Turturici1, Annamaria Ferrari1, Maria Cristina Leonardi1, Roberta Lazzari1, Massimo Sarra Fiore1, Giammaria Bufi1, Federica Cattani3, Camilla Arrobbio1,2, Filippo Patti1,2, Alessia Casbarra1,2, Iacopo Cavallo1,2, Fabrizio Mastrilli4, Roberto Orecchia5, Barbara Alicja Jereczek-Fossa1,2

1. Division of Radiation Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
2. Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
3. Medical Physics Unit, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
4. Medical Administration, CMO, IEO, European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
5. Scientific Direction, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
 
* Daniela Alterio MD and Stefania Volpe MD equally contributed to the present work, and should be considered as co-first authors
 
Corresponding Author:
Stefania Volpe MD
E-mail address: stefania.volpe@ieo.it
Orcid ID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0498-2964
 
Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Funding statement and Acknowledgements: This study was partially supported by the Italian Ministry of Health with “Progetto di Eccellenza”. Stefania Volpe MD is a PhD student within the European School of Molecular Medicine (SEMM).
 
ABSTRACT
Background: Management of head and neck cancers (HNC) in Radiation Oncology in the COVID-19 era is challenging. Aim of our work is to report organization strategies at a Radiation Therapy (RT) Department in the first European area experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We focused on 1) dedicated procedures for HNC, 2) radiation treatment scheduling and 3) healthcare professionals’ protection applied during the Covid-19 breakdown (from 1st March to 30th April 2020). Results: Applied procedures are reported and discussed. Forty-three pts were treated. Image-guided, Intensity Modulated RT was performed in all cases. Median overall treatment time (OTT) was 50 (IQR: 47-54.25) days. RT was interrupted/delayed in seven pts (16%) for suspected COVID-19 infection. Two health professionals managing HNC pts were proven as COVID-19 positive. Conclusion: Adequate and well-timed organization allowed for the optimization of HNC pts balancing at the best of our possibilities pts’ care and personnel’s safety.