Nuclear thyroidology in pandemic times: The paradigm shift of COVID-19.

Evanthia Giannoula, Alexis Vrachimis, Luca Giovanella, Vasiliki Chatzipavlidou, Ioannis Iakovou
Author Information
  1. Evanthia Giannoula: Academic Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital AHEPA, School of Medicine, PC 54621 Thessaloniki, Greece. iiakovou@auth.gr.

Abstract

Since its outbreak in Wuhan, China the SARS-CoV-2 has become a public health emergency of international concern, impacting all areas of daily life, including medical care. Although not in the front line nuclear medicine practice should adjust their standard operating procedures. The adaptations and the flexibility that nuclear thyroidology, among other fields of nuclear medicine, should show during the pandemic, must focus not only in minimizing the risk of infection to staff, patients, and family members, but also in controlling the transmission of the virus while continuing to provide health care services which do not jeopardize patients' prognosis and quality of life. Favorable prognosis and indolent symptoms of most cases of thyroid diseases, allows postponements and rescheduling as well as alternative procedures, provided that they are cautiously considered for each case individually. The objective of the current paper is to provide guidance on how diagnostic and therapeutic management of patients with thyroid diseases can be safely and effectively adjusted during pandemic, in nuclear medicine settings.

MeSH Term

COVID-19
Coronavirus Infections
Decision Making
Health Priorities
Humans
Infection Control
Nuclear Medicine Department, Hospital
Pandemics
Pneumonia, Viral
Practice Guidelines as Topic
Thyroid Diseases

Word Cloud

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