Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34331571›Full record

SynthesisEuropean 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 Surgery2022

Acupuncture for radiation-induced toxicity in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a systematic review based on PICO criteria.

Pierluigi Bonomo, Giulia Stocchi, Saverio Caini, Isacco Desideri, Veronica Santarlasci, Carlotta Becherini, Vittorio Limatola, Luca Giovanni Locatello, Giuditta Mannelli, Giuseppe Spinelli and 2 more

Open access · hybridAbstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in 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, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
1.7field-weighted citation impact, top 15% 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

5 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 10 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. MASCC/ISOO Clinical Practice Statement: Management of salivary gland hypofunction and xerostomia in cancer patients.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2024
    Guideline
  2. Pooled it
  3. Acupuncture in cancer care: a narrative review.Revista da Associacao Medica Brasileira (1992) · 2024
    Review
  4. Review
  5. Review
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

12 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Pierluigi BonomoRadiation Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, University of Florence, largo Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy. bonomop@aou-careggi.toscana.it.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8999-5208
Giulia StocchiRadiation Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, University of Florence, largo Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy.
Saverio CainiCancer Risk Factors and Lifestyle Epidemiology Unit, Institute for Cancer Research, Prevention, and Clinical Network (ISPRO), Florence, Italy.
Isacco DesideriRadiation Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, University of Florence, largo Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy.
Veronica SantarlasciIntegrative Medicine Unit, Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy.
Carlotta BecheriniRadiation Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, University of Florence, largo Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy.
Vittorio LimatolaIntegrative Medicine Unit, Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy.
Luca Giovanni LocatelloDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy.
Giuditta MannelliHead and Neck Oncology and Robotic Surgery, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy.
Giuseppe SpinelliMaxillo Facial Surgery Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy.
Carmelo GuidoFior Di Prugna Center for Complementary Medicine, Azienda USL Toscana Centro, Florence, Italy.
Lorenzo LiviRadiation Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, University of Florence, largo Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy.
Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi · ITAzienda Usl Toscana Centro · ITPiedmont Reference Center for Epidemiology and Cancer Prevention · IT

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeIn head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), the potential mitigating effect of complementary medicine interventions such as acupuncture for radiation-induced toxicity is unknown. This study aimed to assess the impact of acupuncture on the incidence and degree of severity of common radiation-induced side effects.

methodsIn accordance with pre-specified PICO criteria, a systematic review was performed. Two electronic databases (Medline and Embase) were searched over a 10-year time frame (01/01/10 to 30/09/20). Patients undergoing a curatively intended, radiation-based treatment for histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the nasopharynx, oropharynx, larynx, hypopharynx and oral cavity represented the target population of our study. Accurate information on the acupuncture methodology was reported. All included articles were evaluated to identify any potential source of bias

resultsFive papers were included in our qualitative analysis, for a total of 633 subjects. Compliance to per-protocol defined schedule of acupuncture sessions was high, ranging from 82 to 95.9%. Most patients (70.6%) were randomly allocated to receive acupuncture for its potential preventive effect on xerostomia. The large heterogeneity in study settings and clinical outcomes prevented from performing a cumulative quantitative analysis, thus no definitive recommendations can be provided.

conclusionsAlthough shown to be feasible and safe, no firm evidence currently supports the use of acupuncture for the routine management of radiation-induced toxicity in HNSCC.

Indexed as

Acupuncture TherapyHead and Neck NeoplasmsRadiation InjuriesXerostomiaHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicSquamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and NeckAcupunctureChemotherapyHead and neck cancerRadiotherapyToxicity

Identifiers

PMID34331571
PMCPMC8930866
OpenAlexW3185179067

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

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.