Review
Oncology
Mathew P. P. Caputo, Carmen S. S. Rodriguez, Tapan A. A. Padhya, Matthew J. J. Mifsud
Summary: This systematic review examines telemedicine-based interventions for head and neck cancer patients and finds that this model has the potential for cost-effectiveness and clinical utility in rehabilitation. However, the current literature on this topic is limited and more research is needed to determine its role in management.
Review
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Stijn van Weert, C. Rene Leemans
Summary: This article discusses salvage surgery after failed organ preservation treatment, highlighting the importance of meticulous discussion and planning in a multidisciplinary environment, as well as the need to identify proper prognosticators to ensure an optimal treatment plan for potentially salvageable patients.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Mayur D. Mody, James W. Rocco, Sue S. Yom, Robert Haddad, Nabil F. Saba
Summary: Head and neck cancer is the seventh most common type of cancer worldwide, with the predominant risk factors being tobacco use, alcohol abuse, and oncogenic viruses. Treatment typically involves a multidisciplinary approach with surgery, radiotherapy, and systemic therapy, and is challenging due to site-specific and histology-specific variations.
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Wenwen Yang, Yifei Du, Mengran Chen, Sufang Li, Fan Zhang, Peiyang Yu, Xiaoxia Xu
Summary: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of telerehabilitation in reducing physiological and functional impairments related to swallowing and improving adherence and related factors among head and neck cancer survivors. The results showed that home-based telerehabilitation improved the safety of swallowing and oral feeding, nutritional status, and swallowing-related quality of life, and reduced negative emotions, while also enhancing adherence and satisfaction. Factors influencing the efficacy of telerehabilitation were also identified.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL INTERNET RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Medical Laboratory Technology
Vijaya Marakala
Summary: This study conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on the diagnostic capabilities of biological markers in the plasma, serum, tissue, and saliva of patients with head and neck cancer. The results showed that combined biomarkers had higher diagnostic accuracy compared to individual biomarkers, but further studies are needed to validate these findings.
CLINICA CHIMICA ACTA
(2023)
Review
Oncology
Linda A. Cantwell, Emer Fahy, Emily R. Walters, Joanne M. Patterson
Summary: This systematic review examined the components and effects of nutritional prehabilitation interventions on head and neck cancer patients. The study found limited research in this area and no significant advantages of using enriched formulas in prehabilitation period.
SUPPORTIVE CARE IN CANCER
(2022)
Review
Otorhinolaryngology
Danielle N. Margalit, Talya Salz, Rebecca Venchiarutti, Kristi Milley, Mairead McNamara, Sophie Chima, Jamieson Wong, Paige Druce, Larissa Nekhlyudov
Summary: This systematic review found that there are few high-quality studies addressing the needs of head/neck cancer survivors. Most of the interventions focused on the surveillance and management of physical effects, with some also addressing psychosocial effects. Future research should aim to address a broader range of survivorship care, including chronic disease management and health promotion/disease prevention.
HEAD AND NECK-JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES AND SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK
(2022)
Review
Oncology
Primoz Strojan, Ales Groselj, Gregor Sersa, Christina Caroline Plaschke, Jan B. Vermorken, Sandra Nuyts, Remco de Bree, Avraham Eisbruch, William M. Mendenhall, Robert Smee, Alfio Ferlito
Summary: Electrochemotherapy, based on reversible electroporation and intracellular accumulation of hydrophilic drug molecules, is considered an effective and safe treatment for tumors, including mucosal cancer of the head and neck. Limited experience with ECT in mucosal HNC due to poor accessibility of tumors highlights the need for further research to confirm its potential as a treatment option in selected patients.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Peter K. M. Ku, Alexander C. Vlantis, Zenon W. C. Yeung, Osan Y. M. Ho, Ryan H. W. Cho, Alex K. F. Lee, Thomas S. C. Hui, Erin P. L. So, Thomas K. T. Law, Victor Abdullah, Andrew van Hasselt, Michael C. F. Tong
Summary: The study found that TSLC surgery can control chronic aspiration while preserving phonation function of the larynx, resulting in better voice and speech quality compared to laryngectomy with a voice prosthesis.
Review
Oncology
Antti Makitie, Iida Tuokkola, Goran Laurell, Outi Makitie, Kerry Olsen, Robert P. Takes, Ewa Florek, Krzysztof Szyfter, Cornelis F. M. Sier, Alfio Ferlito
Summary: Observational studies have shown an inverse association between serum 25-OH vitamin D levels and overall cancer risk, but the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and head and neck cancer (HNC) remains inconclusive. Further research is needed to determine the role of low 25(OH)D concentrations in the development or outcome of HNCs.
CURRENT ONCOLOGY REPORTS
(2021)
Review
Otorhinolaryngology
Ishith Seth, Gabriella Bulloch, Kirby R. Qin, Yi Xie, Benjamin Sebastian, Hann Liew, Warren Matthew Rozen, Chun Hin Angus Lee
Summary: Pre-rehabilitation interventions such as nutrition and exercise have a positive effect on post-interventional outcomes in patients with head and neck cancer, including improved quality of life and reduced mortality and morbidity.
HEAD AND NECK-JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES AND SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK
(2023)
Review
Otorhinolaryngology
Kate Hulse, Lucy Qian Li, Anja Lowit, Roma Maguire, Catriona Douglas
Summary: Digital health tools are recognized as effective interventions in monitoring chronic health conditions. This systematic review examined the utilization of digital health in patients with head and neck cancer as a supplementary care. The review identified a small number of digital health tools in head and neck cancer. However, there is a lack of well-designed randomized controlled trials to demonstrate their effectiveness.
JOURNAL OF LARYNGOLOGY AND OTOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology
Hedvig Eriksson, Lisa Tuomi, Caterina Finizia
Summary: This study aimed to investigate whether patients with dysphagia after treatment for head and neck cancer can improve their vocal function through head lift exercises (Shaker's exercise). The study found that patients in the intervention group had less roughness and vocal fry in their voices at follow-up compared to the control group. However, there were no statistically significant changes in the intervention or control group regarding GRBAS, VF, or VHI. Therefore, this study only provides cautious support for the use of head lift exercise in improving the voice of patients with dysphagia after treatment for head and neck cancer.
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Sing Ean Tan, Nur Fadhlina Abdul Satar, Hazreen Abdul Majid
Summary: Malnutrition is common among head and neck cancer patients and can lead to reduced treatment response and increased side effects. Supplementation with immunonutrient-enriched formulas during radiotherapy and chemotherapy may improve or maintain nutrition status, while supplementation with glutamine may delay the onset of oral mucositis and reduce severe cases. Further research is needed to determine optimal timing, dosage, and duration of immunonutrition.
FRONTIERS IN NUTRITION
(2022)
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Antti A. A. Maekitie, Rasheed Omobolaji Alabi, Sweet Ping Ng, Robert P. P. Takes, K. Thomas Robbins, Ohad Ronen, Ashok R. R. Shaha, Patrick J. J. Bradley, Nabil F. F. Saba, Sandra Nuyts, Asterios Triantafyllou, Cesare Piazza, Alessandra Rinaldo, Alfio Ferlito
Summary: This article provides an analysis of systematic reviews on the current status and limitations of the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) as decision-making tools in head and neck cancer (HNC) management. The reviews reveal that AI/ML can be used for detecting cancerous lesions, predicting histopathological nature, prognosticating, extracting pathological findings from imaging, and various applications in radiation oncology. However, the lack of standardized guidelines, performance reporting, external validation procedures, and regulatory frameworks limit their adoption in clinical practice.
ADVANCES IN THERAPY
(2023)