Setting and population
During the most acute COVID-19 emergency phase, from 8 March 2020 to 20 April 2020, we prospectively collected data from patients admitted to ENT department of Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli”, in Rome (Italy). As a result of new restrictions imposed by the health emergency and infectious risk, hospitalization at ENT department was permitted strictly for patients suffering from head-neck cancer, assessed by a multidisciplinary team (MDT) and candidate for an appropriate surgical therapy. The MDT in our practice is composed by several specialists 8: head and neck surgeon, radiation oncologist, medical oncologist, neuroradiologist, supportive and palliative care specialist, speech language pathologist, nutritionist, dentist, who during COVID-19 pandemic, can meet only in a virtual conference room with an associated tele-conference line. Remote participants were able to join via on-line platform, observing eventual imaging reproduced during the conference and discussing the post-operative care. For non-emergency patients or patients with benign head and neck tumors, the in-hospital treatment was postponed according to national and regional authorities’ indications.