Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 24, 2025
Therapy Testing in a Spheroid-based 3D Cell Culture Model for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Published on: April 20, 2018
Long-Term Functional Outcomes in Pediatric Head and Neck Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review
Priya Arya1, Emerson Bouldin2, Natalia Kuhn3
1School of Medicine, Mercer University, Savannah, Georgia, USA.
Insights
Pediatric head and neck cancer survivors frequently experience swallowing difficulties and other functional deficits after treatment. More standardized assessments are needed to understand long-term outcomes and quality of life.
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.
Objective:
The multimodal treatments for pediatric head and neck (H&N) malignancies can have significant long-term functional consequences for growing patients. This systematic review aims to analyze the current knowledge of functional outcomes for pediatric H&N cancer survivors.
Data Sources:
PubMed, Embase, Web of Science.
Review Methods:
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines were followed, and 1356 papers were reviewed by 3 team members with conflict resolution by a senior member.
Results:
Fourteen studies were included. Nine of 14 (64%) papers reported issues with swallowing, characterized as either dysphagia, odynophagia, oropharyngeal fibrosis, esophageal stenosis, xerostomia, trismus, or general issues with the throat and mouth. Six of 14 papers noted nutritional and feeding deficiencies, and 5 of 14 additionally noted issues with speech and voice changes. Four of 14 (29%) reported hearing impairments and/or loss. A majority of papers (9/14) reported long-term functional characteristics as a secondary outcome. Three of 14 (21%) reported a quality of life (QoL) measure. Heterogeneity in methodology and reporting precluded analysis of any relationship between treatment type and functional outcomes. Recommendations include integration of objective measures of feeding support and swallowing, as well as regular measurements of function and QoL parameters during treatment to better understand the evolution of QoL and function throughout care.
Conclusion:
Relatively few studies focus on functional outcomes following the treatment of pediatric H&N cancer. Swallowing difficulty is the most frequently reported deficit, but objective data is rarely reported. Standardization of functional outcome assessment could improve the quality of evidence for pediatric patients treated for H&N cancer.
