SynthesisJournal of surgical oncology2025
Definition of Palliative Surgery in Cancer Care: A Systematic Review.
Synthesis in Journal of surgical oncology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
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.
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.
Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- New Paradigms of Cancer Require New Language: A Qualitative Study Exploring Language for Non-Curative Non-Palliative Cancer Surgery.Journal of surgical oncology · 2026Article
- Article
- Decision-making and peri-operative perspectives of patients with advanced cancer who have decided for and proceeded with palliative gastrointestinal surgery: A qualitative study.Palliative care and social practice · 2026Article
- Challenges, care gaps, and coping mechanisms in patients with advanced cancer and their caregivers following palliative gastrointestinal surgery.Palliative care and social practice · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
Abstract
Palliative surgery is commonly performed in cancer centers worldwide. Yet, there is little agreement on the definition of palliative surgery or its relevant outcomes. This systematic review sought to characterize the definitions of palliative surgery and outcomes for patients with cancer undergoing thoraco-abdominal procedures. Following PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a search using PubMed, EMBASE and CINAHL databases to identify English-language publications between August 1, 2005, and December 31, 2023 reporting palliative thoraco-abdominal procedures for patients with cancer. Definitions of palliative surgery were coded and analyzed using an inductive approach. Outcomes were classified according to an outcome measures hierarchy. Among 92 articles met inclusion criteria and four themes emerged in how palliative surgery was defined throughout the literature: prognosis (incurable cancer diagnosis), purpose (intent to treat symptoms or improve quality of life), procedure type (specific operative interventions), or persistent disease following surgery (incomplete cytoreduction). Survival (90%) and perioperative complications/morbidity (72%) were the most commonly reported outcomes, whereas symptom relief, quality of life, and sustainability of success were infrequently reported. Definitions of palliative surgery vary across studies of patients with cancer undergoing thoracic or abdominal procedures and measured outcomes often do not align with the intent of surgery.
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Registered trials
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