Open AccessIncreased Number of Colorectal Interval Cancers in Lynch Syndrome after the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: A Survey-Based Study
Author(s) -
Michele Russo,
Alberto Barchi,
Alessandro Mannucci,
Marta Puzzono,
Raffaella Alessia Zuppardo,
Paolo Biamonte,
Sarah Bencardino,
G. Leandro,
Renato Cannizzaro,
Fabio Monica,
Rocco Maurizio Zagari,
Luigi Pasquale,
Elisabetta Goni,
Milena Di Leo,
Luigi Ricciardiello,
Giulia Martina Cavestro
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
digestive diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.879
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1421-9875
pISSN - 0257-2753
DOI - 10.1159/000524393
Subject(s) - medicine , colorectal cancer , pandemic , lynch syndrome , covid-19 , cancer , confidence interval , multidisciplinary team , family medicine , general surgery , disease , infectious disease (medical specialty) , dna mismatch repair , nursing
Background: Hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes require timely endoscopic surveillance.Methods: This study evaluated the approach of Italian gastroenterologists to the management of such patients. It then assessed the impact of SARS-CoV-2. All members affiliated with the leading Italian gastroenterology societies (AIGO, SIED, and SIGE) received an online questionnaire.Results: One hundred and twenty-one clinicians from 96 centers answered, not necessarily experts in the field (mean age 50.26±11.22 years). Many collected family history for genetic risk assessment (74.4%), but only 14.0% used online predictive software. 65.6% discussed cases in multidisciplinary units. Genetic analysis was available to most centers, but only a few hospitals offered dedicated endoscopy (19.0%), outpatient clinics (33.9%), or surgeries (23.1%). Since the start of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the number of clinicians with a high volume of patients decreased (from 38.8% to 28.1%). Almost half of the responders (45.5%) reported a delay in the surveillance (median: 4-12 months). Ultimately, 30.6% detected one interval colorectal cancer in at least one of their patients.Conclusion: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic directly affected the surveillance of hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes in Italy. Endoscopic surveillance should resume in all centers to avoid the possible long-term consequences of its interruption, especially for inherited colorectal cancer syndromes.