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Journals / The Turkish Journal of Ear Nose and Throat / 2026 / Volume: 36 Issue: 1

Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of Patients Undergoing Head and Neck Cancer Surgery during and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Single-Centre Experience

Deniz Baklacı(Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery)0000-0001-8449-4965
Duygu Erdem(Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery)0000-0002-7973-2719
Gökhan Furkan Kılıç(Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery)0000-0003-3975-3547
Aleyna Şivetoğlu(Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery)0009-0006-7262-181X
Hüseyin Işık(Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery)0009-0008-4164-9726
Ergin Bilgin(Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery)0000-0001-7191-6209
Mehmet Murat Günay(Ankara Etlik City Hospital, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery)0000-0003-1880-8334
Ömer Bayır(0000-0001-9445-6129)0000-0001-9445-6129
Pages
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Publication Date
2026-03-31
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

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⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Conclusion: The pandemic had enduring repercussions on head and neck cancer surgery, altering patient profiles and tumour types, and indicating indirect impacts on healthcare access.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Objective: To evaluate the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgical oncology by comparing the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients undergoing surgery for head and neck cancer during the pandemic and postpandemic periods.
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Key Findings & Data:Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 167 patients who underwent surgery at our clinic between March 2020 and March 2025.
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Conclusion & Impact:Conclusion: The pandemic had enduring repercussions on head and neck cancer surgery, altering patient profiles and tumour types, and indicating indirect impacts on healthcare access.
🔬Design:Research Article
📍Scope:2020 Verileri
⚙️Variables:COVID-19 Pandemic · Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck · Surgical Oncology

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgical oncology by comparing the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients undergoing surgery for head and neck cancer during the pandemic and postpandemic periods. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 167 patients who underwent surgery at our clinic between March 2020 and March 2025. Patients were grouped as pandemic (n=53) and postpandemic (n=114). Age, diagnosis-to-surgery time, hospital stay, tumour localisation, pathological stage, and histopathology were compared. Results: There was a statistically significant reduction in patients’ average age during the pandemic (p=0.009). No significant differences were observed in the interval from diagnosis to surgery, postoperative hospitalisation duration, or pathological stage. The distribution of tumour localisation showed a difference approaching statistical significance (p=0.052). The postpandemic period exhibited a significantly higher proportion of SCC (p=0.016). Conclusion: The pandemic had enduring repercussions on head and neck cancer surgery, altering patient profiles and tumour types, and indicating indirect impacts on healthcare access.

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Cite This Article

Baklacı, D., Erdem, D., Kılıç, G. F., Şivetoğlu, A., Işık, H., Bilgin, E., Günay, M. M., Bayır, Ö. (2026). Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of Patients Undergoing Head and Neck Cancer Surgery during and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Single-Centre Experience. The Turkish Journal of Ear Nose and Throat, Volume: 36 Issue: 1. https://doi.org/10.26650/Tr-ENT.2026.1847469

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