COVID-19 and Radiation Oncology: a 2-phase planning in a mono-institutional experience in Central Italy

Abstract Background: COVID-19 in Italy has led to a reorganization of hospital activities with risks of cancer treatments discontinuity. We report a management model in the two phases of the COVID-19 emergency, lockdown phase I and post-lockdown phase II.Methods: Actions were planned in the two phases: workloads of the visits and radiotherapy planning, dedicated routes, measures for triage areas, management of suspected and positive COVID-19 cases, personal protective equipment, environments andintra-institutional meetings and tumor boards management.Results: Comparing our radiotherapy activity in the period March 9- May 4, 2019 with the same period of 2020 in full phase I of the COVID-19 emergency, no changes were observed.First radiotherapy visits, Simulation Computed Tomography and Linear Accelerators treatments were 123, 137 and 151 in 2019 respect to 121, 135 and 170 in 2020.There were no cases of COVID-19 positivity recorded either in patients or in healthcare professionals who were all negative to the buffers performed.Conclusions: The model planned in our experience in both phases has guaranteed continuity of radiotherapy treatments without workload reduction nor treatment interruption ensuring safety of cancer patients, environments and staff.