摘要
The novel 2019 corona virus disease also called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has caused a global pandemic and more than 2.5 million people have been affected globally with over 100000 deaths.The disease has caused an escalation in hospitalization with growing need for hospital beds and intensive care unit for severe cases.Recent evidence has shown that a significant proportion of cancer patients affected by the corona virus present with severe respiratory pneumonia-like illness with need for subsequent intensive care unit ventilation and higher mortality risk.This susceptibility may be due to the immunosuppressive state of patients with malignancy confounded by chemotherapy,immunotherapy and targeted therapy.Many solid tumors(lung cancer,pancreatic cancer)as well as hematological malignancies(leukemias)may require prompt diagnosis and treatment based on the disease aggression and progression.Many centers lack clear guideline on the management of cancer during the pandemic.The objective of this review is to synthesize the available literature and provide recommendations on the management of various soft tissue and hematological malignancies.The review will also assess the management guidelines for hospitalized cancer patients;cancer patients in the outpatient setting as well as available modalities for follow-up.
