 |
Vol.61 No.1 contents | Japanese/English |
 | Full Text of PDF (340K) Article in Japanese |
- Invited Review Article -
Lung Cancer Management During the Coronavirus 2019 Pandemic
Yuichi Takiguchi11Department of Medical Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Japan
Objective. To clarify the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on lung cancer management, and to overcome the pandemic and preserve the optimal management of lung cancer in Japan. Methods. Previously published studies concerning the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on lung cancer management were reviewed, and clinical guidelines published from Japan and other countries-including one by the Japan Lung Cancer Society (JLCS)-were examined for their relevance and uniqueness. Results. COVID-19 infection in lung cancer seems patients tended to be more serious and mortal in comparison to the general population, whereas no information regarding the susceptibility of lung cancer patients to infection was found. It should be noticed, however, that all of the studies published to date have been non-Japanese retrospective observational studies, and have contained important confounding factors. It is not clear whether the observations from those studies are valid in Japan. Due to contradictory data, it is unclear whether specific treatments for lung cancer have an impact on the prognosis of patients with lung cancer and COVID-19. Conclusion. Containing the COVID-19 pandemic is crucial for preserving the standard of care for lung cancer patients. As patients and caregivers may be forced to alter the standard of care in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic, guidelines including the expert opinion of the JLCS, should be consulted to propose optimal compromises in lung cancer management.
key words: Lung cancer, Clinical guideline, Coronavirus 2019, Restrain from medical care, The Japan Lung Cancer Society
JJLC 61 (1): 12-16, 2021
