Pharmacological and Other Interventions for Head and Neck Cancer Pain: a Systematic Review

Objectives: Pain is a common complication in head and neck cancer. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the evidence from randomised control trials investigating pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods of pain management in head and neck cancer. Material and Methods: Medline, Embase and the...

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Main Authors: Patrick B. Trotter, Lindsey A. Norton, Ann S. Loo, Jonathan I. Munn, Elena Voge, Kim W. Ah-See, Tatiana V. Macfarlane
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Faculty of Odontology 2012-12-01
Series:eJournal of Oral Maxillofacial Research
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.ejomr.org/JOMR/archives/2012/4/e1/v3n4e1ht.htm
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author Patrick B. Trotter
Lindsey A. Norton
Ann S. Loo
Jonathan I. Munn
Elena Voge
Kim W. Ah-See
Tatiana V. Macfarlane
author_facet Patrick B. Trotter
Lindsey A. Norton
Ann S. Loo
Jonathan I. Munn
Elena Voge
Kim W. Ah-See
Tatiana V. Macfarlane
author_sort Patrick B. Trotter
collection DOAJ
description Objectives: Pain is a common complication in head and neck cancer. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the evidence from randomised control trials investigating pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods of pain management in head and neck cancer. Material and Methods: Medline, Embase and the Cochrane library databases were searched. Squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck excluding nasopharyngeal and salivary gland cancers were included. The limits were “human” and “randomised clinical trials”. A quality assessment was carried out. Results: 13 studies were included with a total of 644 participants. The primary outcome for most of these papers was pain control post-treatment. Levels of bias varied between the studies. Majority (12 out of the 13 studies) reported intervention to be superior to the control or standard therapy in pain management. Only 46% of the studies were carried out on an intention to treat basis. Two studies reported high dropout rates, with one at 66%. Conclusions: There is insufficient evidence from randomised clinical trials to suggest an optimal pharmacological intervention for head and neck cancer pain post-treatment. Further high quality randomised clinical trials should be conducted to develop an optimal management strategy for head and neck cancer pain.
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spelling doaj-art-f3719d6ea9d24888bccd6bfefda3e5ee2025-08-20T03:22:42ZengLithuanian University of Health Sciences, Faculty of OdontologyeJournal of Oral Maxillofacial Research2029-283X2012-12-0134e110.5037/jomr.2012.3401Pharmacological and Other Interventions for Head and Neck Cancer Pain: a Systematic ReviewPatrick B. TrotterLindsey A. NortonAnn S. LooJonathan I. MunnElena VogeKim W. Ah-SeeTatiana V. MacfarlaneObjectives: Pain is a common complication in head and neck cancer. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the evidence from randomised control trials investigating pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods of pain management in head and neck cancer. Material and Methods: Medline, Embase and the Cochrane library databases were searched. Squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck excluding nasopharyngeal and salivary gland cancers were included. The limits were “human” and “randomised clinical trials”. A quality assessment was carried out. Results: 13 studies were included with a total of 644 participants. The primary outcome for most of these papers was pain control post-treatment. Levels of bias varied between the studies. Majority (12 out of the 13 studies) reported intervention to be superior to the control or standard therapy in pain management. Only 46% of the studies were carried out on an intention to treat basis. Two studies reported high dropout rates, with one at 66%. Conclusions: There is insufficient evidence from randomised clinical trials to suggest an optimal pharmacological intervention for head and neck cancer pain post-treatment. Further high quality randomised clinical trials should be conducted to develop an optimal management strategy for head and neck cancer pain.http://www.ejomr.org/JOMR/archives/2012/4/e1/v3n4e1ht.htmhead and neck neoplasmspainpostoperativeanalgesicsopioidpain measurementsystematic review.
spellingShingle Patrick B. Trotter
Lindsey A. Norton
Ann S. Loo
Jonathan I. Munn
Elena Voge
Kim W. Ah-See
Tatiana V. Macfarlane
Pharmacological and Other Interventions for Head and Neck Cancer Pain: a Systematic Review
eJournal of Oral Maxillofacial Research
head and neck neoplasms
pain
postoperative
analgesics
opioid
pain measurement
systematic review.
title Pharmacological and Other Interventions for Head and Neck Cancer Pain: a Systematic Review
title_full Pharmacological and Other Interventions for Head and Neck Cancer Pain: a Systematic Review
title_fullStr Pharmacological and Other Interventions for Head and Neck Cancer Pain: a Systematic Review
title_full_unstemmed Pharmacological and Other Interventions for Head and Neck Cancer Pain: a Systematic Review
title_short Pharmacological and Other Interventions for Head and Neck Cancer Pain: a Systematic Review
title_sort pharmacological and other interventions for head and neck cancer pain a systematic review
topic head and neck neoplasms
pain
postoperative
analgesics
opioid
pain measurement
systematic review.
url http://www.ejomr.org/JOMR/archives/2012/4/e1/v3n4e1ht.htm
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