Thyroid cancer in the Era of COVID-19

Endocrine. 2020 Oct;70(1):1-5. doi: 10.1007/s12020-020-02439-6. Epub 2020 Aug 4.

Abstract

The recent coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is placing health systems in serious challenges worldwide. Shocking statistics each day has prompted the World Health Organization to officially declare the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic in March 2020. Preliminary studies have shown increased mortality in patients with solid cancers and infection by SARS-CoV-2. Until now, the evidence on the behavior of COVID-19 in patients with a history of thyroid cancer remains scarce, and most of the recommendations given are based on common sense. Therefore, in this viewpoint, we present a brief review of several challenges we are frequently facing during this pandemic and a series of recommendations based on what we have implemented in our clinical practice at a university hospital currently mostly dedicated to COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; Cancer; Coronavirus; Infectious disease; Thyroid cancer.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Betacoronavirus*
  • Biopsy, Fine-Needle / adverse effects
  • COVID-19
  • Comorbidity
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Coronavirus Infections / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immune System
  • Iodine Radioisotopes / adverse effects
  • Iodine Radioisotopes / therapeutic use
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / immunology
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Radiotherapy / adverse effects
  • Risk Factors
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / epidemiology*
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / immunology
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / therapy
  • Thyroxine / therapeutic use
  • World Health Organization

Substances

  • Iodine Radioisotopes
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Thyroxine