Valid and reliable techniques for measuring fibrosis in patients with head and neck cancer postradiotherapy: A systematic review

Abstract

To date, there are no valid and reliable techniques for measuring fibrosis postradiotherapy for head and neck cancer, especially within the suprahyoid and pharyngeal regions. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E2322-E2334, 2016.

Radiotherapy induced dermatitis is a strong predictor for late fibrosis in head and neck cancer. The development of a predictive model for late fibrosis

“…For these studies, it is important to be able to select potential patients in an early stage. Treatment options like stretching exercises and prophylactic swallowing exercises are very time-consuming and less likely to be used on the long term in a less than average compliant population [9]. Fig.…”

“…However, none of these techniques have shown a clear benefit up to now [9]. Since the treatment options for fibrosis following RT for HNC are limited, we must currently focus on prevention.…”

“…Several techniques have been used to treat fibrosis within the head and neck region, including lycopene, pentoxifylline, pirfenidone, vitamin E, aloe vera, corticosteroid injections, interferon gamma, hyperbaric oxygen, stretching exercises, prophylactic swallowing exercises, hyperthermia, impedance controlled microcurrent therapy and acupuncture [9]. However, none of these techniques have shown a clear benefit up to now [9].…”

The application of ultrasound in detecting lymph nodal recurrence in the treated neck of head and neck cancer patients

“…However, nearly all previous treatments will increase the difficulties in detecting LN recurrence in the treated neck of patients with head and neck cancers. The preceding radiation will lead to fibrotic tissue changes in the treated neck 3 . Preceding surgery such as neck dissection or flap reconstruction will cause anatomic variations in the treated neck.…”

Alterations in rhythmic licking behaviors following fibrosis in the rat mylohyoid muscle.

“…Acute injuries resolve within a few weeks post radiation therapy, however subacute and late term injuries take time to develop and may lead to chronic impairments (King, Dunlap, Tennant, & Pitts, 2016;Naoko Saito, 2012). Long-term changes may be associated with persistent oxidative damages that have been shown to be a key characteristic in radiation injury (Shaw, Skoretz, O'Sullivan, Hope, Liu, & Martino, 2016). In the head and neck muscles, previous reports using MRI have demonstrated that radiation can result in fibrosis in pharyngeal constrictors as seen by significant increase in tissue inflammation and edema 3-months post radiation (Popovtzer, Cao, Feng, & Eisbruch, 2009).…”