What do systematic reviews say?

Pre-radiotherapy extraction of healthy molar teeth vs Conservative treatment (leaving the teeth in place during radiotherapy, with oral health education and disease prevention: oral hygiene, fluoride, diet advice)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Dental extractions prior to radiotherapy to the jaws for reducing post‐radiotherapy dental complications 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies
  No studies found

Pre-radiotherapy extraction of diseased molar teeth vs Conservative treatment (restoration of the teeth and leaving them in place during radiotherapy, with oral health education and disease prevention: oral hygiene, fluoride, diet advice)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Dental extractions prior to radiotherapy to the jaws for reducing post‐radiotherapy dental complications 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies
  No studies found

Radiotherapy (morning) vs Radiotherapy (afternoon/evening)

Radiotherapy (morning) showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (moderate to severe) compared with radiotherapy (afternoon/evening); GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.7 [0.48, 1.01]
  1 study · 177 participants
  GRADE not reported

Radiotherapy (morning) vs Radiotherapy (afternoon/evening)

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies
  GRADE not reported

Concomitant (concurrent) chemoradiotherapy vs Radiotherapy alone

Concomitant (concurrent) chemoradiotherapy led to lower locoregional control, concurrent chemoradiotherapy (platinum +… compared with radiotherapy alone (non-resectable tumours); GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer: chemotherapy 2021 · Cochrane All outcomes
  RR 0.75 [0.61, 0.93]
  3 studies
  GRADE not reported

Concomitant (concurrent) chemoradiotherapy vs Radiotherapy alone

Concomitant (concurrent) chemoradiotherapy led to lower disease-free survival, concurrent chemoradiotherapy vs radiotherapy… compared with radiotherapy alone (non-resectable tumours); GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer: chemotherapy 2021 · Cochrane All outcomes
  HR 0.74 [0.67, 0.80]
  13 studies
  GRADE not reported

Concomitant (concurrent) chemoradiotherapy vs Radiotherapy alone

Concomitant (concurrent) chemoradiotherapy probably leads to lower overall survival, concurrent chemoradiotherapy vs radiotherapy alone… compared with radiotherapy alone (non-resectable tumours) (moderate certainty).

• Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer: chemotherapy 2021 · Cochrane All outcomes
  HR 0.74 [0.67, 0.83]
  24 studies · 2852 participants
  Moderate

Pre-radiotherapy dental extraction vs Post-radiotherapy dental extraction

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Dental extractions prior to radiotherapy to the jaws for reducing post‐radiotherapy dental complications 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies
  No studies found

Neutron radiotherapy vs Conventional photon radiotherapy

Neutron radiotherapy showed no clear difference in disease free survival compared with conventional photon radiotherapy; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer: radiotherapy 2010 · Cochrane All outcomes

  5 years
  RR 0.63 [0.36, 1.09]
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Neutron radiotherapy vs Conventional photon radiotherapy

Neutron radiotherapy showed no clear difference in locoregional control compared with conventional photon radiotherapy; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer: radiotherapy 2010 · Cochrane All outcomes

  5 years
  RR 0.97 [0.69, 1.36]
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Radiotherapy (morning) vs Afternoon radiotherapy

Morning radiotherapy showed no clear difference in total mortality compared with afternoon radiotherapy; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer: radiotherapy 2010 · Cochrane All outcomes

  2 years
  RR 1.09 [0.74, 1.59]
  1 study · 216 participants
  GRADE not reported

Neutron radiotherapy vs Conventional photon radiotherapy

Neutron radiotherapy showed no clear difference in total mortality compared with conventional photon radiotherapy; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer: radiotherapy 2010 · Cochrane All outcomes
  HR 1.10 [0.90, 1.34]
  3 studies
  GRADE not reported

Radiotherapy (morning) vs Afternoon radiotherapy

• Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer: radiotherapy 2010 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Bjarnason 2009: no statistically significant difference in quality of life scores (data not reported). Morning radiotherapy was associated with significantly less weight loss after 5 months.
  1 study · 216 participants
  GRADE not reported

Radiotherapy (morning) vs Afternoon radiotherapy

Morning radiotherapy showed no clear difference in locoregional control compared with afternoon radiotherapy; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer: radiotherapy 2010 · Cochrane All outcomes
  HR 0.92 [0.60, 1.42]
  1 study · 216 participants
  GRADE not reported

Surgery +/- radiotherapy + (adjuvant) chemotherapy vs Surgery +/- radiotherapy alone (observation or adjuvant radiotherapy only)

Surgery +/- radiotherapy + (adjuvant) chemotherapy led to lower disease-free survival, adjuvant concurrent chemoradiation vs… compared with surgery +/- radiotherapy alone (observation or adjuvant radiotherapy…; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer: chemotherapy 2021 · Cochrane All outcomes
  HR 0.84 [0.72, 0.97]
  4 studies
  GRADE not reported

Surgery +/- radiotherapy + (adjuvant) chemotherapy vs Surgery +/- radiotherapy alone (observation or adjuvant radiotherapy only)

Surgery +/- radiotherapy + (adjuvant) chemotherapy probably leads to lower overall survival, adjuvant concurrent chemoradiation vs adjuvant… compared with surgery +/- radiotherapy alone (observation or adjuvant radiotherapy… (moderate certainty).

• Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer: chemotherapy 2021 · Cochrane All outcomes
  HR 0.84 [0.72, 0.98]
  4 studies · 1097 participants
  Moderate

Pre-radiotherapy extraction of healthy molar teeth vs Conservative treatment (leaving the teeth in place during radiotherapy, with oral health education and disease prevention: oral hygiene, fluoride, diet advice)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Dental extractions prior to radiotherapy to the jaws for reducing post‐radiotherapy dental complications 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies
  No studies found

Pre-radiotherapy extraction of healthy molar teeth vs Conservative treatment (leaving the teeth in place during radiotherapy, with oral health education and disease prevention: oral hygiene, fluoride, diet advice)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Dental extractions prior to radiotherapy to the jaws for reducing post‐radiotherapy dental complications 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies
  No studies found

Pre-radiotherapy extraction of healthy molar teeth vs Conservative treatment (leaving the teeth in place during radiotherapy, with oral health education and disease prevention: oral hygiene, fluoride, diet advice)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Dental extractions prior to radiotherapy to the jaws for reducing post‐radiotherapy dental complications 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies
  No studies found

Pre-radiotherapy extraction of healthy molar teeth vs Conservative treatment (leaving the teeth in place during radiotherapy, with oral health education and disease prevention: oral hygiene, fluoride, diet advice)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Dental extractions prior to radiotherapy to the jaws for reducing post‐radiotherapy dental complications 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies
  No studies found