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Each row is one question a systematic review asked: who, what, compared with what, and which outcome, with the effect it found and how certain that is. Words match anywhere in the field.
164 questions in 26 reviews · Oral medicine and oral cancer
current versionsNo studies 164 · 100%Ungraded 0 · 0%Very low 0 · 0%Low 0 · 0%Moderate 0 · 0%High 0 · 0%
Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.
| Question | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Oral cryotherapy (ice chips, ice-cold water, ice cubes or crushed ice held in the mouth during cancer treatment) vs Control (no treatment or standard/usual oral care, e.g. saline rinse) Number of days in hospital (duration of hospitalisation) · All patients with cancer who are receiving treatment · Fluorouracil (5FU) treatment for solid cancers Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: oral cryotherapy (2015) · Cochrane | Summary of findings for the main comparison (5FU solid cancers): Duration of hospitalisation (days) - 'No studies assessed this outcome'. | 0 studies | No studies |
Oral cryotherapy (ice chips, ice-cold water, ice cubes or crushed ice held in the mouth during cancer treatment) vs Control (no treatment or standard/usual oral care, e.g. saline rinse) Quality of life · All patients with cancer who are receiving treatment · Fluorouracil (5FU) treatment for solid cancers Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: oral cryotherapy (2015) · Cochrane | Summary of findings for the main comparison (5FU solid cancers): Quality of life - 'No studies assessed this outcome'. | 0 studies | No studies |
Oral cryotherapy (ice chips, ice-cold water, ice cubes or crushed ice held in the mouth during cancer treatment) vs Control (no treatment or standard/usual oral care, e.g. saline rinse) Interruptions to cancer treatment (incidence) · All patients with cancer who are receiving treatment · High-dose melphalan-based treatment prior to HSCT (haematological cancers) Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: oral cryotherapy (2015) · Cochrane | Summary of findings 2 (melphalan/HSCT): Interruptions to cancer treatment - 'No studies assessed this outcome'. | 0 studies | No studies |
Oral cryotherapy (ice chips, ice-cold water, ice cubes or crushed ice held in the mouth during cancer treatment) vs Control (no treatment or standard/usual oral care, e.g. saline rinse) Normalcy of diet (days of total parenteral nutrition, TPN) · All patients with cancer who are receiving treatment · Fluorouracil (5FU) treatment for solid cancers Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: oral cryotherapy (2015) · Cochrane | Summary of findings for the main comparison (5FU solid cancers): Normalcy of diet (days of total parenteral nutrition) - 'No studies assessed this outcome'. | 0 studies | No studies |
Oral cryotherapy (ice chips, ice-cold water, ice cubes or crushed ice held in the mouth during cancer treatment) vs Control (no treatment or standard/usual oral care, e.g. saline rinse) Number of days unable to take medicine orally · All patients with cancer who are receiving treatment · Fluorouracil (5FU) treatment for solid cancers Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: oral cryotherapy (2015) · Cochrane | No studies reported the number of days unable to take medicine orally (whole review). | 0 studies | No studies |
Acupuncture vs Placebo (sham acupuncture) Oral health assessment · Adults with dry mouth due to radiotherapy (head and neck cancer) or Sjogren's Syndrome Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non‐pharmacological interventions (2013) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Acupuncture vs Placebo (sham acupuncture) Duration of effectiveness · Adults with dry mouth due to radiotherapy (head and neck cancer) or Sjogren's Syndrome Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non‐pharmacological interventions (2013) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Electrostimulation (device) vs Placebo (sham/placebo device) Oral health assessment · Adults with dry mouth due to Sjogren's Syndrome Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non‐pharmacological interventions (2013) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Visual screening (oral visual inspection) by trained health workers vs No screening Harms of screening (false-positive/false-negative outcomes) · Apparently healthy adults aged 35 years or older (general population), living in 13 clusters in rural areas of… · 15-year follow-up Screening programmes for the early detection and prevention of oral cancer (2013) · Cochrane | No harms were reported. | 0 studies | No studies |
Electrostimulation (device) vs Placebo (sham/placebo device) Quality of life · Adults with dry mouth due to Sjogren's Syndrome Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non‐pharmacological interventions (2013) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Visual screening (oral visual inspection) by trained health workers vs No screening Quality of life · Apparently healthy adults aged 35 years or older (general population), living in 13 clusters in rural areas of… · 15-year follow-up Screening programmes for the early detection and prevention of oral cancer (2013) · Cochrane | Data on quality of life were not reported. | 0 studies | No studies |
Acupuncture vs Placebo (sham acupuncture) Quality of life · Adults with dry mouth due to radiotherapy (head and neck cancer) or Sjogren's Syndrome Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non‐pharmacological interventions (2013) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Electrostimulation (device) vs Placebo (sham/placebo device) Patient satisfaction with treatment · Adults with dry mouth due to Sjogren's Syndrome Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non‐pharmacological interventions (2013) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Toluidine blue (visual staining) vs No screening Outcome NR · Planned population: general population or high-risk / opportunistic screening groups (no eligible study) Screening programmes for the early detection and prevention of oral cancer (2013) · Cochrane | There was no evidence to support the use of adjunctive technologies like toluidine blue, brush biopsy or fluorescence imaging as a screening tool to reduce oral cancer mortality; no eligible randomised controlled trial… | 0 studies | No studies |
Brush biopsy (oral cytology) vs No screening Outcome NR · Planned population: general population or high-risk / opportunistic screening groups (no eligible study) Screening programmes for the early detection and prevention of oral cancer (2013) · Cochrane | There was no evidence to support the use of adjunctive technologies like toluidine blue, brush biopsy or fluorescence imaging as a screening tool to reduce oral cancer mortality; no eligible randomised controlled trial… | 0 studies | No studies |
Acupuncture vs Placebo (sham acupuncture) Patient satisfaction with treatment · Adults with dry mouth due to radiotherapy (head and neck cancer) or Sjogren's Syndrome Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non‐pharmacological interventions (2013) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Electrostimulation (device) vs Placebo (sham/placebo device) Duration of effectiveness · Adults with dry mouth due to Sjogren's Syndrome Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non‐pharmacological interventions (2013) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Fluorescence imaging / light-based techniques vs No screening Outcome NR · Planned population: general population or high-risk / opportunistic screening groups (no eligible study) Screening programmes for the early detection and prevention of oral cancer (2013) · Cochrane | There was no evidence to support the use of adjunctive technologies like toluidine blue, brush biopsy or fluorescence imaging as a screening tool to reduce oral cancer mortality; no eligible randomised controlled trial… | 0 studies | No studies |
Any topical or systemic intervention vs Placebo, no treatment, or another intervention Outcome NR · People with erosive anogenital (genital) lichen planus Interventions for erosive lichen planus affecting mucosal sites (2012) · Cochrane | None of the included studies assessed the effectiveness of treatments of genital ELP; no evidence was found for genital ELP. | 0 studies | No studies |
Any topical or systemic intervention (topical/systemic steroids, ciclosporin, tacrolimus, retinoids, anti-malarials, biologics, phototherapy, surgery) vs Placebo, no treatment, another active intervention, or a different dose of the same intervention Eating a normally varied diet · People of any age with erosive lichen planus affecting the oral, anogenital, and/or oesophageal regions Interventions for erosive lichen planus affecting mucosal sites (2012) · Cochrane | No studies reported this outcome. | 0 studies | No studies |
Betamethasone (systemic corticosteroid) vs Placebo or no treatment Outcome NR · Participants with a previous or current history of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS), diagnosed on history and… Systemic interventions for recurrent aphthous stomatitis (mouth ulcers) (2012) · Cochrane | Table 1 (Systemic agents used in the management of aphthous stomatitis): 'Studies of these corticosteroids were not found or included in the review but are included here for completeness. They are not given orally for… | 0 studies | No studies |
Any topical or systemic intervention (topical/systemic steroids, ciclosporin, tacrolimus, retinoids, anti-malarials, biologics, phototherapy, surgery) vs Placebo, no treatment, another active intervention, or a different dose of the same intervention Restoration of sexual activity · People of any age with erosive lichen planus affecting the oral, anogenital, and/or oesophageal regions Interventions for erosive lichen planus affecting mucosal sites (2012) · Cochrane | None of the included studies assessed the effectiveness of treatments of genital ELP; thus, this outcome was not reported. | 0 studies | No studies |
Beclometasone dipropionate (systemic corticosteroid) vs Placebo or no treatment Outcome NR · Participants with a previous or current history of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS), diagnosed on history and… Systemic interventions for recurrent aphthous stomatitis (mouth ulcers) (2012) · Cochrane | Table 1: 'Studies of these corticosteroids were not found or included in the review but are included here for completeness.' No trial of beclometasone dipropionate for RAS was identified. | 0 studies | No studies |
Any topical or systemic intervention (topical/systemic steroids, ciclosporin, tacrolimus, retinoids, anti-malarials, biologics, phototherapy, surgery) vs Placebo, no treatment, another active intervention, or a different dose of the same intervention Reduction in number of flares · People of any age with erosive lichen planus affecting the oral, anogenital, and/or oesophageal regions Interventions for erosive lichen planus affecting mucosal sites (2012) · Cochrane | No studies reported this outcome. | 0 studies | No studies |
Any topical or systemic intervention vs Placebo, no treatment, or another intervention Outcome NR · People with erosive oesophageal lichen planus Interventions for erosive lichen planus affecting mucosal sites (2012) · Cochrane | None of the studies involved oesophageal disease; hence, no evidence was found for the treatment of oesophageal ELP. | 0 studies | No studies |
Any topical or systemic intervention (topical/systemic steroids, ciclosporin, tacrolimus, retinoids, anti-malarials, biologics, phototherapy, surgery) vs Placebo, no treatment, another active intervention, or a different dose of the same intervention Reduction in severity of flares · People of any age with erosive lichen planus affecting the oral, anogenital, and/or oesophageal regions Interventions for erosive lichen planus affecting mucosal sites (2012) · Cochrane | No studies reported this outcome. | 0 studies | No studies |
Thalidomide (immunomodulator) vs Placebo or no treatment Outcome NR · Participants with a previous or current history of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS), diagnosed on history and… Systemic interventions for recurrent aphthous stomatitis (mouth ulcers) (2012) · Cochrane | Authors' conclusions: 'this review did not find trials involving several of other systemic interventions used for RAS, for example thalidomide in the absence of any systemic condition, despite its limitations on… | 0 studies | No studies |
Hydrocortisone (systemic corticosteroid) vs Placebo or no treatment Outcome NR · Participants with a previous or current history of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS), diagnosed on history and… Systemic interventions for recurrent aphthous stomatitis (mouth ulcers) (2012) · Cochrane | Table 1: 'Studies of these corticosteroids were not found or included in the review but are included here for completeness.' No trial of hydrocortisone for RAS was identified. | 0 studies | No studies |
Any antifungal intervention for the treatment of oral candidiasis vs Placebo, no treatment, or another active antifungal intervention Days stay in hospital · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy with overt oral candidiasis Interventions for treating oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | None of the studies reported: relief of pain, relief of dysphagia, incidence of systemic infection, amount of analgesia, days stay in hospital, cost of oral care, patient quality of life. | 0 studies | No studies |
Any antifungal intervention for the treatment of oral candidiasis vs Placebo, no treatment, or another active antifungal intervention Cost of oral care · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy with overt oral candidiasis Interventions for treating oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | None of the studies reported: relief of pain, relief of dysphagia, incidence of systemic infection, amount of analgesia, days stay in hospital, cost of oral care, patient quality of life. | 0 studies | No studies |
Any antifungal intervention for the treatment of oral candidiasis vs Placebo, no treatment, or another active antifungal intervention Amount of analgesia · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy with overt oral candidiasis Interventions for treating oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | None of the studies reported: relief of pain, relief of dysphagia, incidence of systemic infection, amount of analgesia, days stay in hospital, cost of oral care, patient quality of life. | 0 studies | No studies |
Partially absorbed antifungal drug (e.g., clotrimazole, miconazole) vs Drug not absorbed from GI tract (e.g., nystatin, amphotericin B) Outcome NR · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy with overt oral candidiasis Interventions for treating oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | There were no trials comparing partially absorbed drugs with either absorbed drugs or drugs not absorbed. | 0 studies | No studies |
Any antifungal intervention for the treatment of oral candidiasis vs Placebo, no treatment, or another active antifungal intervention Incidence of systemic infection · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy with overt oral candidiasis Interventions for treating oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | None of the studies reported: relief of pain, relief of dysphagia, incidence of systemic infection, amount of analgesia, days stay in hospital, cost of oral care, patient quality of life. | 0 studies | No studies |
Intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) vs Conventional or other radiotherapy Outcome NR · People with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity (ICD-O C01-C06) or oropharynx (ICD-O C09-C10); head and… Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer: radiotherapy (2010) · Cochrane | Discussion: 'There are currently no trials of IMRT in this systematic review' (the PARSPORT trial was underway, expected 2013). No eligible trials of intensity modulated radiotherapy identified. | 0 studies | No studies |
Any antifungal intervention for the treatment of oral candidiasis vs Placebo, no treatment, or another active antifungal intervention Relief of dysphagia · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy with overt oral candidiasis Interventions for treating oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | None of the studies reported: relief of pain, relief of dysphagia, incidence of systemic infection, amount of analgesia, days stay in hospital, cost of oral care, patient quality of life. | 0 studies | No studies |
Partially absorbed antifungal drug (e.g., clotrimazole, miconazole) vs Absorbed antifungal drug (e.g., fluconazole, ketoconazole, itraconazole) Outcome NR · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy with overt oral candidiasis Interventions for treating oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | There were no trials comparing partially absorbed drugs with either absorbed drugs or drugs not absorbed. | 0 studies | No studies |
Any antifungal intervention for the treatment of oral candidiasis vs Placebo, no treatment, or another active antifungal intervention Relief of pain · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy with overt oral candidiasis Interventions for treating oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | None of the studies reported: relief of pain, relief of dysphagia, incidence of systemic infection, amount of analgesia, days stay in hospital, cost of oral care, patient quality of life. | 0 studies | No studies |
Any antifungal intervention for the treatment of oral candidiasis vs Placebo, no treatment, or another active antifungal intervention Patient quality of life · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy with overt oral candidiasis Interventions for treating oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | None of the studies reported: relief of pain, relief of dysphagia, incidence of systemic infection, amount of analgesia, days stay in hospital, cost of oral care, patient quality of life. | 0 studies | No studies |
Altered fractionation radiotherapy plus chemotherapy vs Chemoradiotherapy with standard (conventional) fractionation Outcome NR · People with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity (ICD-O C01-C06) or oropharynx (ICD-O C09-C10); head and… Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer: radiotherapy (2010) · Cochrane | Discussion: 'there are no completed trials of altered fractionation plus chemotherapy versus chemoradiotherapy with standard fractionation.' | 0 studies | No studies |
Altered fractionation radiotherapy vs Chemoradiotherapy (concurrent, standard fractionation) Outcome NR · People with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity (ICD-O C01-C06) or oropharynx (ICD-O C09-C10); head and… Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer: radiotherapy (2010) · Cochrane | Discussion: altered fractionation radiotherapy 'has not been directly compared to chemoradiotherapy'. No eligible head-to-head trials. | 0 studies | No studies |
Prophylactic aciclovir (oral or intravenous) vs Placebo Amount of analgesia · Patients being treated for cancer (predominantly haematological malignancies) Interventions for the prevention and treatment of herpes simplex virus in patients being treated for cancer (2009) · Cochrane | None of the prophylactic aciclovir versus placebo trials reported on amount of analgesia. For prevention or treatment, no trials reported on duration of hospital stay, amount of analgesia or patient quality of life. | 0 studies | No studies |
Aciclovir (oral or intravenous) for treatment vs Placebo Recurrence of lesions · Patients being treated for cancer with established oral HSV infection (bone marrow transplant recipients /… Interventions for the prevention and treatment of herpes simplex virus in patients being treated for cancer (2009) · Cochrane | For the treatment comparison (aciclovir versus placebo), no data were available for recurrence of lesions, amount of analgesia, days of stay in hospital, cost of oral care or patient quality of life. | 0 studies | No studies |
Prophylactic aciclovir (oral or intravenous) vs Placebo Patient quality of life · Patients being treated for cancer (predominantly haematological malignancies) Interventions for the prevention and treatment of herpes simplex virus in patients being treated for cancer (2009) · Cochrane | None of the prophylactic aciclovir versus placebo trials reported on patient quality of life. For prevention or treatment, no trials reported on duration of hospital stay, amount of analgesia or patient quality of life. | 0 studies | No studies |
Aciclovir (oral or intravenous) for treatment vs Placebo Days stay in hospital · Patients being treated for cancer with established oral HSV infection (bone marrow transplant recipients /… Interventions for the prevention and treatment of herpes simplex virus in patients being treated for cancer (2009) · Cochrane | For the treatment comparison (aciclovir versus placebo), no data were available for recurrence of lesions, amount of analgesia, days of stay in hospital, cost of oral care or patient quality of life. | 0 studies | No studies |
Aciclovir (oral or intravenous) for treatment vs Placebo Amount of analgesia · Patients being treated for cancer with established oral HSV infection (bone marrow transplant recipients /… Interventions for the prevention and treatment of herpes simplex virus in patients being treated for cancer (2009) · Cochrane | For the treatment comparison (aciclovir versus placebo), no data were available for recurrence of lesions, amount of analgesia, days of stay in hospital, cost of oral care or patient quality of life. | 0 studies | No studies |
Prophylactic aciclovir (oral or intravenous) vs Placebo Days stay in hospital · Patients being treated for cancer (predominantly haematological malignancies) Interventions for the prevention and treatment of herpes simplex virus in patients being treated for cancer (2009) · Cochrane | For prevention or treatment, no trials reported on duration of hospital stay, amount of analgesia or patient quality of life. | 0 studies | No studies |
Aciclovir (oral or intravenous) for treatment vs Placebo Patient quality of life · Patients being treated for cancer with established oral HSV infection (bone marrow transplant recipients /… Interventions for the prevention and treatment of herpes simplex virus in patients being treated for cancer (2009) · Cochrane | For the treatment comparison (aciclovir versus placebo), no data were available for recurrence of lesions, amount of analgesia, days of stay in hospital, cost of oral care or patient quality of life. | 0 studies | No studies |
Prophylactic aciclovir (oral or intravenous) vs Placebo Recurrence of lesions · Patients being treated for cancer (predominantly haematological malignancies) Interventions for the prevention and treatment of herpes simplex virus in patients being treated for cancer (2009) · Cochrane | Recurrence of lesions was a planned secondary outcome; no included trial reported data for this outcome in the prophylactic aciclovir versus placebo comparison. | 0 studies | No studies |
Aciclovir (oral or intravenous) for treatment vs Placebo Cost of oral care · Patients being treated for cancer with established oral HSV infection (bone marrow transplant recipients /… Interventions for the prevention and treatment of herpes simplex virus in patients being treated for cancer (2009) · Cochrane | For the treatment comparison (aciclovir versus placebo), no data were available for recurrence of lesions, amount of analgesia, days of stay in hospital, cost of oral care or patient quality of life. | 0 studies | No studies |
Minimal incision palatopharyngoplasty (MIPP) vs MIPP with additional individualised velopharyngeal surgery (pharyngeal flap or sphincter pharyngoplasty) Quality of life (self or carer evaluated, validated questionnaires) · Children or adolescents aged 3 years or older with velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) associated with non-syndromic… Interventions for the management of submucous cleft palate (2008) · Cochrane | No data were available for this patient-reported outcome in the single included trial. | 0 studies | No studies |