Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42429839›Full record

ArticleEuropean radiology2026

Sarcopenia as a prognostic factor in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Hongpeng Zhang, Jinghong Xu, Chao Chai, Huiying Wang, Xiaodong Ji, Jiachi Pu, Zemao Li, Shinong Pan, Shuang Xia

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Article in European radiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–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

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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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. IntegratedEuropean journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging · 2026
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4 · The record

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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

9 authors.

Hongpeng Zhang *Department of Radiology, Medical Imaging Institute of Tianjin, First Central Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
Jinghong Xu *Department of Radiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
Chao ChaiDepartment of Radiology, Medical Imaging Institute of Tianjin, First Central Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
Huiying WangDepartment of Radiology, Medical Imaging Institute of Tianjin, First Central Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
Xiaodong JiDepartment of Radiology, Medical Imaging Institute of Tianjin, First Central Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
Jiachi PuDepartment of Radiology, Medical Imaging Institute of Tianjin, Tianjin First Central Hospital, Tianjin, China.
Zemao LiDepartment of Radiology, Medical Imaging Institute of Tianjin, Tianjin First Central Hospital, Tianjin, China.
Shinong PanDepartment of Radiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
Shuang XiaDepartment of Radiology, Medical Imaging Institute of Tianjin, First Central Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China. xiashuang77@163.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1626-6383

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesSarcopenia is an established prognostic biomarker in malignancies, and its integration with inflammation demonstrates a synergistic amplification of adverse outcomes; its role in the prognosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains inadequately characterized. The objectives of our study are to determine the prognostic value of combined sarcopenia and inflammation in HNSCC. MATERIALS AND

methodsA systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase identified studies comparing survival outcomes among HNSCC patients stratified by the presence or absence of sarcopenia and concurrent inflammation. Pooled hazard ratio (pHR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using random effect model. Heterogeneity was quantified using I² statistics, with sensitivity analyses, Graphic Display of Study Heterogeneity (GOSH) plots, and subgroup analyses to evaluate robustness and sources of heterogeneity.

results26 studies (22,408 patients; mean age range from 51 to 73 years; 85.5% male) were included. Sarcopenia was associated with significantly reduced overall survival (OS: pHR = 1.89; p < 0.001) and disease-free survival (DFS: pHR = 2.01; p < 0.001). Combined sarcopenia-inflammation assessment further reduced OS (pHR = 14.56) and DFS (pHR = 5.92; both p < 0.001). Prognostic utility was comparable across vertebral levels (C3 vs. L3): OS (C3: pHR = 1.88; L3: pHR = 2.09; interaction p = 0.70) and DFS (C3: pHR = 1.75; L3: pHR = 2.43; interaction p = 0.23).

conclusionSarcopenia is independently associated with diminished survival rates in patients with HNSCC, and the additional value of inflammation synergistically exacerbates adverse clinical outcomes. KEY POINTS: Question The impact of sarcopenia on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients remains unclear, with a lack of standardized imaging diagnostic criteria. Findings HNSCC patients with sarcopenia exhibit poor prognosis, and inflammation further shortens survival, while different radiological diagnostic criteria demonstrate comparable efficacy. Clinical relevance Management of HNSCC patients should emphasize sarcopenia assessment and attention to inflammatory burden; reducing both risks may improve prognosis.

Indexed as

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomaInflammationMeta-analysisSarcopenia

Identifiers

PMID42429839

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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.