SynthesisPloS one2021
Prognostic impact of sarcopenia in patients with head and neck cancer treated with surgery or radiation: A meta-analysis.
Synthesis in PloS one, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 30 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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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.
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.
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Who cites it
30 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 50 citations in OpenAlex.
- The predictive and prognostic role of radiologically defined sarcopenia in head and neck cancer: a systematic review and multi-level meta-analysis.British journal of cancer · 2025Pooled it
- Sarcopenia predicts postoperative complications in head and neck cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.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 · 2024Pooled it
- Prognostic role of pretreatment skeletal muscle index in gastric cancer patients: A meta-analysis.Pathology oncology research : POR · 2023Pooled it
- Beyond reduced intake: tumor metabolism and immune dysregulation drive cancer-related malnutrition in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026Review
- Automated Pretreatment Thoracic CT-Based Body Composition Analysis Predicts Progression-Free Survival in Head and Neck Cancer.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
- Skeletal muscle index and hand grip strength as predictors of postoperative recovery in patients with gastrointestinal tumors.BMC gastroenterology · 2026Observational
- Clinical impact of computed tomography-measured skeletal muscle status at the third cervical vertebra on definitive radiotherapy outcomes for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.Japanese journal of radiology · 2026Article
- Temporal muscle thickness is associated with immunotherapy outcomes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.PloS one · 2026Article
- The role of nutritional status and sarcopenia in treatment tolerance and toxicity in head and neck cancer: a narrative review.Frontiers in nutrition · 2026Review
- Early host adaptation defined by nutritional and inflammatory dynamics predicts disease progression in solid tumours.American journal of cancer research · 2026Article
- Muscle matters: automated CT-based body composition analysis predicts survival in patients with head and neck cancer treated with immunotherapy.Frontiers in oncology · 2026Article
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- Review
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- Older adults, appendicular anthropometric measurements, and poor functional performance are predictors of sarcopenia in individuals with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2024Article
- Multi-Domain Screening: Identification of Patient's Risk Profile Prior to Head-and-Neck Cancer Treatment.Cancers · 2023Article
- Enhanced recovery after surgery, current, and future considerations in head and neck cancer.Laryngoscope investigative otolaryngology · 2023Review
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- Role of sarcopenia on survival and treatment-related toxicity in head and neck cancer: a narrative review of current evidence and future perspectives.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 · 2023Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe objective of this study was to compare the prognostic impact of sarcopenia in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) treated with surgery or radiation.
methodsWe systematically searched electronic databases to identify articles reporting the impact of sarcopenia on the prognosis of patients with HNC. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and disease-specific survival (DSS) were extracted and pooled. HR according to treatment modality were estimated using random-effects models. Statistical analyses were carried out using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software.
resultsIn total, 18 studies enrolling 3,233 patients were included. Sarcopenia was associated with poor OS in both surgery and radiotherapy groups (hazard ratio [HR] 2.50, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.95-3.21; HR 1.63, 95% CI 1.40-1.90, respectively). The HR was significantly higher in the surgery group than in the radiotherapy group (p = 0.004), with similar results obtained for DFS (HR 2.59, 95% CI 1.56-4.31; HR 1.56, 95% CI 1.24-1.97 for the surgery and radiotherapy groups, respectively) and DSS (HR 2.96, 95% CI 0.73-11.95; HR 2.67, 95% CI 1.51-4.73 for the surgery and RT groups, respectively).
conclusionsSarcopenia was a poor prognostic factor for HNC, regardless of the treatment modality. However, the adverse effects of sarcopenia on survival were more prominent in the surgery group than in the radiotherapy group. Sarcopenia assessment is required for appropriate treatment decision-making.
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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.