Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pathology and cytology practice in University Hospital Centre Rijeka

Aim: To determine the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on overall practice histopathological and cytological laboratory at University Hospital Centre Rijeka, diagnosis most common cancers. Methods: The numbers reports, newly diagnosed cancers breast, lung, colon, endometrium, prostate, molecular tests for EGFR mutations HPV were extracted. Two periods, from March 1 to September 30 in 2019 2020 analysed compared, as periods before during pandemic. Results: total number reports was statistically significantly lower 2020, compared same period (p<0.000), histopathology by 24%, non-gynecological cytology 20%, gynecological 13%, Pap 11%. During malignant tumors reduced colon (–25%, p <0.0001). decrease new cases breast (–3%) prostate cancer (–4%) less pronounced while increase recorded lung (+ 2%) endometrial 53%). dropped pandemic, 40% (p Conclusions: This study confirmed expected significant reduction workload first wave 11% 40%, although patients with cancers, except did not fall significantly. It would be important form a joint national registry that collect diagnostic also therapeutic procedures, especially oncology patients, order gain more objective insight into problems health system pandemics. These data can used consider measures strategies adequate care, only but all other patients. © 2021 Hrvatski Lijecnicki Zbor. All rights reserved.