Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39991091›Full record

ReviewClinical and translational radiation oncology2025

Timeline of cognitive impairments after radiotherapy for head and neck cancer: A review.

K Wickborn, C W J van der Weijden, E F J de Vries, T W H Meijer, M C A Kramer, J M Spikman, A M Buunk, A van der Hoorn

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Clinical and translational radiation oncology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
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

7 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Cancer-related cognitive impairment in adult cancer survivors: a clinical practice review for healthcare providers.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
    Review
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Review
  7. Article
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

8 authors.

K WickbornDepartment of Radiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
C W J van der WeijdenDepartment of Radiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
E F J de VriesDepartment of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
T W H MeijerDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
M C A KramerDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
J M SpikmanDepartment of Neurology, Unit Clinical Neuropsychology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
A M BuunkDepartment of Neurology, Unit Clinical Neuropsychology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
A van der HoornDepartment of Radiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: With advances in cancer treatments, long-term impairments of survivors have become more apparent. Radiotherapy of tumors in or near the brain can potentially induce cognitive impairments, impacting the quality of life of survivors. Currently, there is a lack of comprehensive information on the timeline of cognitive impairments following radiotherapy for head and neck cancer (HNC). To address this gap, we conducted a literature review on cognitive impairments observed after radiotherapy for HNC. Methods: The literature review was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar. Search terms included the following keywords: head and neck tumors, radiotherapy, treatment responses, cognitive impairments, as well as variants and related subcategories. Result: Our review encompassed 23 studies involving a total of 1059 HNC patients, predominantly nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Overall, studies indicated a decline in cognitive performance post-radiotherapy compared to baseline scores, control groups, or normative data. The literature on acute effects is scarce and studies with complete neuropsychological assessments are missing. Cognitive impairments were prevalent in the majority of patients at six to 12 months post-radiotherapy, with memory deficits being the most prominent. Long-term assessments demonstrated that these cognitive deficits persisted even beyond seven years, suggesting a potentially irreversible decline in cognition following radiotherapy. Conclusion: Cognitive impairments are frequently observed at least six months after radiotherapy. Standardized cognitive assessments are imperative to evaluate impairments in individual patients. Future research in HNC should integrate neuropsychological evaluations to enhance our understanding of domain-specific impairments and the complete timeline of cognitive changes after radiotherapy.

Indexed as

Adverse Treatment EffectsHead and Neck CancerNeurocognitionRadiotherapy

Identifiers

PMID39991091
PMCPMC11847131

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.