The THYCOVIT (Thyroid Surgery during COVID-19 pandemic in Italy) study: results from a nationwide, multicentric, case-controlled study
Authors: Medas Fabio , Ansaldo Gian Luca , Avenia Nicola , Basili Giancarlo , Boniardi Marco , Bononi Marco , Bove Aldo , Carcoforo Paolo , Casaril Andrea , Cavallaro Giuseppe , Chiofalo Maria Grazia , Conzo Giovanni , De Pasquale Loredana , Del Rio Paolo , Dionigi Gianlorenzo , Dobrinja Chiara , Docimo Giovanni , Graceffa Giuseppa , Iacobone Maurizio , Innaro Nadia , Lombardi Celestino Pio , Palestini Nicola , Pedicini Francesco , Perigli Giuliano , Pezzolla Angela , Scerrino Gregorio , Spiezia Stefano , Testini Mario , Calò Pietro Giorgio ,   SIUEC Collaborative Group, Anedda Giacomo , Antonelli Giovanni , Arrigoni Giulia , Badii Benedetta , Bonati Elena , Bulfamante Antonio Mario , Candalise Vincenzo , Cangiano Angelo , Canu Gian Luigi , Cappellacci Federico , Caracciolo Alessandra , Caruso Ettore , Annamaria D’Amore , Ide Eric Casal , Chiappini Ambra , Cipolla Calogero , Costigliola Luciana , Cozzani Federico , Crocco Anna , Crocetti Daniele , De Manzini Nicolò , Di Gioia Adele , Di Resta Velia , Eramo Rita , Erdas Enrico , Ferriolo Silvia , Filardo Marco ,  Filograna Pignatelli Marcello , Gervasi Rita , Giudici Francesco , Gordini Luca , Gurrado Angela , Impellizzeri Harmony , Inama Marco , Koleva Radica Margherita , Laforgia Rita , Lattarulo Serafina , Loderer Tommaso , Lucchini Roberta , Mascioli Federico , Marcellinaro Rosa , Menditto Rosa , Melfa Giuseppina , Minuto Michele , Misso Claudia , Offi Chiara , Orlando Giuseppina , Ossola Paolo , Pagetta Costantino , Pasculli Alessandro , Patrone Renato , Pauna Iuliana , Pennetti Pennella Francesca , Pietrasanta Dario , Pino Antonella , Pinto Vito Leonardo , Piras Stefano , Polistena Andrea , Portinari Mattia , Reina Simona , Rotolo Giulia , Russo Giulia , Scalise Emilio , Sgaramella Lucia Ilaria , Sibilla Maria Grazia , Spinelli Stefano , Spoletini Domenico , Curto Lucia Stella , Tascone Martina , Torresan Francesca , Varaldo Emanuela , Viviani Elena , Zucca Annalisa 
Published: April 2021

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a disruption of surgical care. The aim of this multi-centric, retrospective study was to evaluate the impact of the pandemic on surgical activity for thyroid disease among the Italian Units of Endocrine Surgery. Three phases of the pandemic were identified based on the epidemiological situation and the public measures adopted from the Italian Government (1st phase: from 9th March to 3rd May 2020; 2nd phase: from 4th May to 14th June; 3rd phase: from 15th June to 31st). The patients operated upon during these phases were compared to those who underwent surgery during the same period of the previous year. Overall, 3892 patients from 28 Italian endocrine surgical units were included in the study, 1478 (38%) operated upon during COVID-19 pandemic, and 2414 (62%) during the corresponding period of 2019. The decrease in the number of operations was by 64.8%, 44.7% and 5.1% during the three phases of COVID-19 pandemic, compared to 2019, respectively. During the first and the second phases, the surgical activity was dedicated mainly to oncological patients. No differences in post-operative complications were noted between the two periods. Oncological activity for thyroid cancer was adequately maintained during the COVID-19 pandemic.