Long-Term Functional Outcomes in Pediatric Head and Neck Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Pediatrics
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Multimodal treatments for pediatric head and neck (H&N) malignancies can lead to significant long-term functional impairments in survivors.
• Understanding these functional outcomes is crucial for improving patient care and quality of life.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and analyze current knowledge on functional outcomes in pediatric H&N cancer survivors.
• To identify common functional deficits and assess the quality of reporting in existing literature.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science.
• 1356 papers were reviewed following PRISMA guidelines by three team members, with senior member conflict resolution.

Main Results:

• Fourteen studies were included, with 64% reporting swallowing issues (dysphagia, xerostomia, trismus).
• Nutritional deficiencies (43%), speech/voice changes (36%), and hearing impairments (29%) were also noted.
• Most studies reported functional outcomes as secondary endpoints, with limited objective measures and quality of life data.

Conclusions:

• Few studies comprehensively assess functional outcomes in pediatric H&N cancer survivors.
• Swallowing difficulties are prevalent, but objective data is scarce.
• Standardized assessment of functional outcomes and quality of life is recommended to enhance evidence quality.