Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29942791›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in oncology2018

An Extended Hypofractionated Palliative Radiotherapy Regimen for Head and Neck Carcinomas.

Michael Laursen, Lena Specht, Claus Andrup Kristensen, Anita Gothelf, Mogens Bernsdorf, Ivan Vogelius, Jeppe Friborg

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in oncology, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
1.8field-weighted citation impact, top 17% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 14 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Real world outcomes of high dose hypo-fractionated radiation therapy for mucosal head and neck cancer in patients unsuitable for curative treatment.Reports of practical oncology and radiotherapy : journal of Greatpoland Cancer Center in Poznan and Polish Society of Radiation Oncology · 2025
    Article
  3. A Nordic survey of the management of palliative care in patients with head and neck cancer.European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery · 2021
    Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Michael LaursenDepartment of Oncology, National University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Lena SpechtDepartment of Oncology, National University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Claus Andrup KristensenDepartment of Oncology, National University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Anita GothelfDepartment of Oncology, National University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Mogens BernsdorfDepartment of Oncology, National University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Ivan VogeliusDepartment of Oncology, National University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Jeppe FriborgDepartment of Oncology, National University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Rigshospitalet · DK

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPalliative radiotherapy to patients with head and neck cancer is often necessary, but there is a substantial variation in the treatment regimens reported in the literature, and consensus on the most appropriate schedules does not exist. In order to minimize acute toxicity while at the same time trying to achieve prolonged tumor control, a long hypofractionated regimen has been used routinely in Denmark. In the current retrospective study, we investigated the outcome in patients intended for palliative radiotherapy with this regimen. MATERIALS AND

methodsPatients with newly diagnosed head and neck cancer treated with palliative radiotherapy of 52-56 Gy in 13-14 fractions twice weekly from 2009 to 2014 were included. Patients were excluded if they had previously received radiotherapy. Data on disease location, stage, patient performance status (PS), treatment response, acute skin and mucosal toxicity, and late fibrosis were collected prospectively and supplemented with information from medical records.

results77 patients were included in the study. Fifty-eight patients (75%) completed the intended treatment. Loco-regional tumor response (complete or partial) was evaluated 2 months posttreatment and observed in 45% of the entire population corresponding to 71% of patients alive. PS had a significant influence on survival (

conclusionPalliative hypofractionated radiotherapy with 52-56 Gy in 13-14 fractions shows good tumor response and tolerability in a vulnerable patient population. However, it may not be suited for patients in poor PS.

Indexed as

head–neck cancerhypofractionationIMRTpalliative treatmentradiotherapy

Identifiers

PMID29942791
PMCPMC6004383
OpenAlexW2804710123

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.