Changing the Surgical Approach to Breast Diseases During the COVID-19 Pandemic Period

Abstract

Background Postponing elective surgeries during the COVID-19 pandemic has also affected the approach to both malignant and benign breast diseases. This paper aims to share how the COVID-19 pandemic affects our approach to breast cancer, benign breast cases, and the procedures' results. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary-level public hospital in Istanbul, Turkey. We retrospectively analyzed our treatment options for patients diagnosed with breast cancer and benign breast disease in the general surgery clinic of a tertiary hospital that declared a pandemic status between March 11, 2020, and June 1, 2020. Results The number of patients who visited the breast outpatient clinic and received a diagnosis of breast cancer was 23. Among the benign diseases, no intervention was made except for abscess (eight patients, 40%) and mastitis (12 patients, 60%). Conclusions Patients with acute abscesses and mastitis were treated for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Chemotherapy and hormone therapy were chosen for those diagnosed with cancer. Priority was given to oncology protocols rather than surgical approaches during the pandemic. We think that different approaches will be defined as the pandemic continues.