Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39796761›Full record

ArticleCancers2025

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Histopathological Cancer Diagnostics in Lower Silesia: A Comparative Analysis of Prostate, Breast, and Colorectal Cancer from 2018 to 2022.

Danuta Szkudlarek, Katarzyna Kalinowska, Benita Wiatrak

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cancers, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Danuta SzkudlarekPathology Department, Provincial Hospital Center of the Jelenia Góra Valley, Ogińskiego 6, 58-506 Jelenia Góra, Poland.
Katarzyna KalinowskaDepartment and Clinic of Pulmonology and Lung Cancers, Wroclaw Medical University, ul. Grabiszynska 105, 53-439 Wroclaw, Poland.
Benita WiatrakDepartment of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Wrocław Medical University, Mikulicza-Radeckiego 2, 50-345 Wrocław, Poland.ORCID 0000-0002-1404-2274

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectiveThe COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted healthcare systems worldwide including cancer diagnostics. This study aimed to assess the impact of the pandemic on histopathological cancer diagnostics in Lower Silesia, Poland, specifically focusing on prostate, breast, and colorectal cancer cases from 2018 to 2022. The objective was to evaluate diagnostic volumes and trends before, during, and after the pandemic and to understand the effect of healthcare disruptions on cancer detection.

methodsHistopathological and cytological data were collected from multiple laboratories across Lower Silesia. Samples were categorized into three periods: pre-pandemic (January 2018-February 2020), pandemic (March 2020-May 2022), and post-pandemic (June-December 2022). Statistical analyses included comparisons of diagnostic volumes and positive diagnoses across these periods.

resultsA significant reduction in the number of histopathological examinations occurred during the pandemic, particularly during its early phase. This decline was accompanied by a higher frequency of positive cancer diagnoses, suggesting the prioritization of high-risk cases. Post-pandemic, diagnostic activity showed partial recovery, though it remained below the pre-pandemic levels, with notable differences across cancer types.

conclusionsThe COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted cancer diagnostics in Lower Silesia, delaying detection and highlighting healthcare system vulnerabilities. These findings underscore the importance of resilient healthcare systems that can ensure the continuity of essential diagnostic services and address inequalities in access to care during crises.

Indexed as

breast cancercolorectal cancerCOVID-19prostate cancer

Identifiers

PMID39796761
PMCPMC11720222

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.