Gregory S. Weinstein, MD1, Roger Cohen, MD2, Alexander Lin, MD3,  Bert W. O’Malley, Jr, MD1, John Lukens, MD3, Samuel Swisher-McClure, MD3,  Rabie M. Shanti, DMD, MD1,4, Jason G. Newman, MD1 Harman S. Parhar, MD, MPH1, Kendall Tasche, MD1, Robert M. Brody, MD1, Ara Chalian, MD 1, Steven Cannady, MD1, James N. Palmer, MD1, Nithin D. Adappa, MD1, Michael A. Kohanski, MD1, Joshua Bauml, MD2, Charu Aggrawal, MD2, Kathleen Montone, MD5, Virginia Livolsi, MD5, Zubair W. Baloch, MD, PhD5 , Jalal B Jalaly, MBBS, MS5, Kumarasen Cooper, MBChB, DPhil, FRCPath, Karthik Rajaskeran, MD1 Laurie Loevner, MD6, Christopher Rassekh, MD1

1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
2. Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
3. Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
4. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
5. Department of Pathology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
 
Corresponding Author
Gregory S. Weinstein, M.D.
Professor and Vice Chair
Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, University of Pennsylvania
Director, PENN Center for Head and Neck Cancer
Director, Penn Medicine Head and Neck Cancer Service Line
3400 Spruce Street, 5 Ravdin, Philadelphia, PA, 19104
E-mail: gregory.weinstein@uphs.upenn.edu
 
Disclosures
This work has never been published or presented anywhere. The authors have no financial or industry relationships to disclose. There are no sources of funding to disclose.
 
Running Title
Management Guidelines – COVID 19 Head and Neck Cancer
 
Keywords
SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, Coronavirus, Head and Neck Cancer
 
Abstract
Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has altered the healthcare environment for the management of head and neck cancers.  The purpose of these guidelines is to provide direction during the pandemic for rational Head and Neck Cancer management in order to achieve a medically and ethically appropriate balance of risks and benefits.
 
Methods: Creation of consensus document.
 
Results: The process yielded a consensus statement among a wide range of practitioners involved in the management of head and neck cancer patients in a multi-hospital tertiary care health system. 
 
Conclusions: These guidelines support an ethical approach for the management of head and neck cancers during the COVID-19 epidemic consistent with both the local standard of care as well as the head and neck oncological literature.