Letter to the Editor: “COVID-19 in patients with cancer: can baseline radiologic severity and early evolution predict clinical outcomes?”

by Rujittika Mungmunpuntipantip, Viroj Wiwanitkit (rujittika@gmail.com)

COVID-19 in patients with cancer: can baseline radiologic severity and early evolution predict clinical outcomes?

Dear Editor,

We would like to share ideas on “COVID-19 in patients with cancer: can baseline radiologic severity and early evolution predict clinical outcomes?” [1]. Perez-Johnston et al. concluded that “The degree of parenchymal involvement on CXR within 72 h of COVID-19 diagnosis is associated with adverse outcomes in patients with cancer” [1]. In any COVID-19 cases, the first clinical presentation is usually an important possible predictor for clinical outcome. For cancerous patient, the result from the present study can confirm this principle. However, there are also many factors determining the clinical outcome of cancerous patients with COVID-19. The standard care for COVID-19 is still not conclusive and there are many alternative care for management of patients. Additionally, the concurrent medical problem might also other important confounding factor affecting the clinical outcome of the patient [2]. Assessment of confounding factor is necessary for conclusion on usefulness of baseline radiology investigation for predicting outcomes of COVID-19 in patient with underlying malignancy.