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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.
1,325 questions in 34 reviews · Oral medicine and oral cancer
current versionsNo studies 164 · 12.4%Ungraded 841 · 63.5%Very low 209 · 15.8%Low 72 · 5.4%Moderate 38 · 2.9%High 1 · 0.1%
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Selenium vs No intervention Quality of life and other oral related symptoms (loss of taste, dysphagia) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region · 6 weeks after end of RT Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | Insufficient evidence of differences for loss of taste or dysphagia; data largely unusable (no standard deviations). Ageusia milder in selenium group (not significant); dysphagia significant only at week 7 (P = 0.05)… | 1 study | Ungraded |
Erythropoietin mouthwash vs Placebo Oral mucositis (severe) · Adults receiving bone marrow/stem cell transplantation after conditioning therapy for haematological cancers Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and… (2017) · Cochrane | RR 0.40 [0.14, 1.17] | 1 study · 80 participants | Ungraded |
Amifostine vs No treatment/placebo Salivary flow rate (unstimulated) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region · End of RT Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | MD 0.34 [0.07, 0.61] | 83 participants | Ungraded |
Acupuncture vs Sham control (deactivated laser sham acupuncture) Taste discrimination improvement · Patients with idiopathic dysgeusia and hypogeusia · 8 weeks Interventions for managing taste disturbances (2017) · Cochrane | MD 2.80 [-1.18, 6.78] | 1 study · 37 participants | Very low |
Bethanechol vs Artificial saliva Salivary flow rate (unstimulated, ml/min) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region · 8 to 40 weeks postRT Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | MD 0.07 [-0.02, 0.16] | 1 study · 33 participants | Ungraded |
Amifostine vs No treatment/placebo Xerostomia (grade >= 2, 0-4 scale) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region · Up to and including 3 months postRT Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | RR 0.66 [0.48, 0.92] | 5 studies · 687 participants | Low |
Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), mouthwash vs Sucralfate mouthwash Oral mucositis (severe) · Adults receiving radiotherapy to the head and neck · RT to head and neck Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and… (2017) · Cochrane | RR 0.54 [0.24, 1.21] | 1 study · 40 participants | Ungraded |
Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF; palifermin or repifermin), intravenous vs Placebo Normalcy of diet (supplemental nutrition: TPN, PEG, nasogastric tube or IV hydration) · Adults with cancer receiving treatment · RT to head and neck with cisplatin/fluorouracil Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and… (2017) · Cochrane | RR 1.03 [0.77, 1.37] | 3 studies · 473 participants | Ungraded |
Transforming growth factor-beta(2) (TGF-beta2) vs Placebo Oral mucositis (any severity) · Adults receiving chemotherapy alone for colorectal cancer Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and… (2017) · Cochrane | RR 0.10 [0.01, 1.71] | 1 study · 13 participants | Ungraded |
Zinc supplements (zinc sulphate, zinc gluconate, zinc picolinate, zinc acetate, or polaprezinc) vs Placebo Taste acuity improvement - patient-reported outcome · Patients with taste disturbances (dysgeusia/hypogeusia; idiopathic, zinc-deficient, or secondary to chronic renal… · Mean 3 months, Zinc-deficient/idiopathic taste disorder Interventions for managing taste disturbances (2017) · Cochrane | RR 1.40 [0.94, 2.09] | 2 studies · 119 participants | Very low |
Amifostine (intravenous) vs Amifostine (subcutaneous) Overall survival · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region · 48 months postRT Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | HR 1.36 [0.89, 2.10] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Amifostine 200 mg/m2 three times weekly vs Amifostine 200 mg/m2 five times weekly Allergic response (adverse effect) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | RR 1.00 [0.15, 6.64] | 1 study · 60 participants | Ungraded |
Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) vs Placebo or no treatment Oral mucositis (moderate to severe) · Adults with cancer receiving treatment · RT to head and neck Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and… (2017) · Cochrane | RR 0.72 [0.49, 1.06] | 1 study · 29 participants | Very low |
Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) vs Placebo or no treatment Oral pain (mean pain score, 0 to 10 scale) · Adults with cancer receiving treatment · BMT/SCT after conditioning for haematological cancers Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and… (2017) · Cochrane | MD 0.60 [-0.85, 2.05] | 1 study · 90 participants | Ungraded |
Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF; palifermin or repifermin), intravenous vs Placebo Interruptions to cancer treatment (chemotherapy delays/discontinuations) · Adults with cancer receiving treatment · RT to head and neck with cisplatin/fluorouracil Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and… (2017) · Cochrane | RR 0.96 [0.62, 1.47] | 2 studies · 374 participants | Ungraded |
Amifostine vs No treatment/placebo Asthenia (adverse effect) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | RR 2.91 [0.31, 27.24] | 1 study · 130 participants | Ungraded |
Intestinal trefoil factor (ITF), oral spray vs Placebo Oral mucositis (any severity) · Adults receiving chemotherapy alone for colorectal cancer Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and… (2017) · Cochrane | RR 0.52 [0.35, 0.79] | 1 study · 99 participants | Ungraded |
Chinese medicine vs No treatment/placebo Xerostomia (other Chinese medicines) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region · End of RT; 1 month after RT Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | No evidence of a difference for Tianwang Buxin Mini-pills (Lin 2014, 71 participants) or Jinlong capsules (Han 2010, 95 participants) | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Pilocarpine vs No treatment/placebo Overall survival · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region · Up to and including 6 months postRT Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | RR 1.07 [0.80, 1.43] | 1 study · 60 participants | Very low |
Intestinal trefoil factor (ITF), oral spray vs Placebo Adverse events · Adults receiving chemotherapy alone for colorectal cancer Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and… (2017) · Cochrane | Adverse events narratively reported (not GRADE-rated) | 1 study | Ungraded |
Polaprezinc vs Azulene oral rinse Oral pain (severe, > 2 on 0-3 scale) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region · Over RT period Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | RR 0.36 [0.17, 0.77] | 1 study · 31 participants | Ungraded |
Chinese medicine vs No treatment/placebo Quality of life · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region · End of intervention to 3 months postRT Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | Insufficient evidence to determine any effect on quality of life (Lin 2014; Analysis 6.5) | 1 study | Ungraded |
Chinese medicine vs No treatment/placebo Overall survival · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region · 12 months postRT Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | Insufficient evidence to determine any effect on overall survival (Hu 2005; Analysis 6.4) | 1 study | Ungraded |
Pilocarpine vs No treatment/placebo Other oral related symptoms (oral discomfort, eating difficulty, mucosal pain, oral complications) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region · End of RT Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | Insufficient evidence of a difference: oral discomfort MD -18.00 (95% CI -37.41 to 1.41); eating difficulties MD -14.40 (95% CI -35.38 to 6.58); mucosal pain MD -14.80 (95% CI -37.07 to 7.47); oral complications RR… | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Amifostine (intravenous) vs Amifostine (subcutaneous) Quality of life · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | No data on either quality of life or other oral related symptoms were reported. | 0 studies | No studies |
Bethanechol vs Artificial saliva Salivary flow rate (stimulated, ml/min) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region · 8 to 40 weeks postRT Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | MD 0.21 [0.01, 0.41] | 1 study · 29 participants | Ungraded |
Epidermal growth factor (EGF), oral spray vs Placebo Adverse events · Adults with cancer receiving treatment Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and… (2017) · Cochrane | Adverse events narratively reported; no serious events attributed to EGF (not GRADE-rated) | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Bethanechol vs Placebo Side effects · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | No statistical difference between groups in bethanechol-related toxicity; no patient experienced severe (grade 3) toxicity (Jaguar 2015) | 1 study | Ungraded |
Amifostine (intravenous) vs Amifostine (subcutaneous) Xerostomia (grade >= 2, 0-4 scale) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region · 12 months postRT Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | RR 0.61 [0.42, 0.88] | 1 study · 127 participants | Ungraded |
Antiseptic mouthrinse vs Placebo Side effects · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | No relevant adverse events were reported in any group (Lanzos 2010) | 1 study | Ungraded |
Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), mouthwash vs Sucralfate mouthwash Oral mucositis (moderate to severe) · Adults receiving radiotherapy to the head and neck · RT to head and neck Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and… (2017) · Cochrane | RR 0.96 [0.80, 1.14] | 1 study · 40 participants | Ungraded |
Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF; palifermin or repifermin), intravenous vs Placebo Interruptions to cancer treatment (unscheduled radiotherapy breaks of 5 or more days) · Adults with cancer receiving treatment · RT to head and neck with cisplatin/fluorouracil Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and… (2017) · Cochrane | RR 1.01 [0.65, 1.59] | 3 studies · 473 participants | Ungraded |
Bethanechol vs Placebo Xerostomia (grade >= 2, 0-3 scale) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region · End of RT Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | RR 0.43 [0.28, 0.66] | 1 study · 84 participants | Ungraded |
Bethanechol vs Placebo Salivary flow rate (stimulated, ml/min) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region · 2 months postRT Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | MD 0.15 [-0.03, 0.33] | 1 study · 97 participants | Ungraded |
Pilocarpine vs No treatment/placebo Salivary flow rate (stimulated) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region · Any time point Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | No evidence of a difference between treatment groups for stimulated salivary flow at any time point (Analysis 1.5) | 8 studies | Ungraded |
Zinc supplements (zinc sulphate, zinc gluconate, zinc picolinate, zinc acetate, or polaprezinc) vs Placebo Taste acuity improvement - objective outcome (continuous) - taste recognition (cross-over trial) · Patients with taste disturbances (dysgeusia/hypogeusia; idiopathic, zinc-deficient, or secondary to chronic renal… · 6 months, Children with chronic renal failure Interventions for managing taste disturbances (2017) · Cochrane | MD 3.00 [0.66, 5.34] | 1 study · 14 participants | Very low |
Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), intravenous vs Chlorhexidine mouthwash Oral mucositis (moderate to severe) · Children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia receiving chemotherapy alone · Children Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and… (2017) · Cochrane | RR 0.12 [0.05, 0.28] | 1 study · 90 participants | Ungraded |
Amifostine vs No treatment/placebo Overall survival · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region · 12 to 24 months postRT Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | HR 1.18 [0.85, 1.66] | 2 studies · 271 participants | Very low |
Bethanechol vs Placebo Salivary flow rate (unstimulated, ml/min) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region · 2 months postRT Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | MD 0.19 [0.06, 0.32] | 1 study · 97 participants | Ungraded |
Antimicrobial lozenge vs Placebo Survival · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | No survival data were reported. | 0 studies | No studies |
Pilocarpine vs No treatment/placebo Xerostomia (dichotomous) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region · End of RT; 3 months postRT Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | RR 1.00 [0.92, 1.08] | 2 studies · 48 participants | Ungraded |
Venalot Depot (coumarin plus troxerutin) vs Placebo Survival (locoregional control) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | Unable to use the data on locoregional control (Grotz 2001) | 1 study | Ungraded |
Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), higher dose/regimen vs Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), different (lower) dose/regimen Oral mucositis (any severity) · Adults with cancer receiving treatment Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and… (2017) · Cochrane | Some inconsistent evidence from which no conclusions can be drawn regarding different dosages of KGF (Analyses 2.1 to 2.8); no pooled estimate reported | NR | Ungraded |
Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF; pegfilgrastim, single dose) vs Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF; filgrastim, multiple doses) Oral mucositis (moderate to severe) · Children receiving bone marrow/stem cell transplantation after conditioning therapy for mixed cancers · Children Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and… (2017) · Cochrane | RR 0.78 [0.55, 1.11] | 1 study · 61 participants | Ungraded |
Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF; palifermin or repifermin), intravenous vs Placebo Oral pain (mean pain score, 0 to 4 scale) · Adults with cancer receiving treatment · RT to head and neck with cisplatin/fluorouracil Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and… (2017) · Cochrane | MD -0.12 [-0.27, 0.02] | 2 studies · 374 participants | Ungraded |
Zinc supplements (zinc sulphate, zinc gluconate, zinc picolinate, zinc acetate, or polaprezinc) vs Placebo Health-related quality of life · Patients with taste disturbances (dysgeusia/hypogeusia; idiopathic, zinc-deficient, or secondary to chronic renal… Interventions for managing taste disturbances (2017) · Cochrane | Results (health-related quality of life): None of the studies reported data on health-related quality of life. Heckmann 2005 (zinc) reported that signs of depression were less severe (Beck Depression Inventory P<0.05;… | 1 study | Ungraded |
Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF; palifermin or repifermin), intravenous vs Placebo Oral mucositis (severe) · Adults with cancer receiving treatment · Chemotherapy alone for mixed cancers Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and… (2017) · Cochrane | RR 0.30 [0.14, 0.65] | 3 studies · 263 participants | Low |
Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), higher dose (1260 to 12,600 micrograms) vs Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), lower dose (12.6 to 126 micrograms) Oral mucositis (severe) · Adults receiving chemotherapy alone for breast cancer Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and… (2017) · Cochrane | RR 2.75 [1.07, 7.04] | 1 study · 36 participants | Ungraded |
Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) vs Placebo or no treatment Oral mucositis (severe) · Adults with cancer receiving treatment · Chemotherapy alone for mixed cancers Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and… (2017) · Cochrane | RR 0.59 [0.05, 7.11] | 2 studies · 65 participants | Very low |
Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF; palifermin or repifermin), intravenous vs Placebo Oral mucositis (moderate to severe) · Adults with cancer receiving treatment · RT to head and neck with cisplatin/fluorouracil Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and… (2017) · Cochrane | RR 0.91 [0.83, 1.00] | 3 studies · 471 participants | Moderate |