COVID-19 and liver cancer: lost patients and larger tumours.
Daniel GehRobyn WatsonGourab SenJeremy J FrenchJohn HammondPaul TurnerTim HoareKirsty AndersonMichael McNeilMcPherson StuartSteven MassonJessica DysonMhairi Claire DonnellyLouise MacDougalPreya PatelMark HudsonQuentin Mark AnsteeSteven WhiteStuart RobinsonSanjay PandanaboyanaLucy WalkerMisti McCainYvonne BuryShreya RamanAlastair BurtDaniel ParkinsonBeate HaugkAntony DarneNick WaddSyed AsgharLavanya MariappanJane MargettsBenjamin StenbergJohn ScottPeter LittlerDerek M ManasHelen L ReevesPublished in: BMJ open gastroenterology (2022)
The pandemic-associated reduction in referred patients in our region was attributed to the disruption of routine healthcare. For those referred, treatments and survival were appropriate for their stage at presentation. Non-referred or missing patients are expected to present with more advanced disease, with poorer outcomes. While protective measures are necessary during the pandemic, we recommend routine healthcare services continue, with patients encouraged to engage.