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Search review questions
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
'Magic' mouthwash (lidocaine, diphenhydramine, aluminium hydroxide) vs Salt and soda mouthwash Time to heal mucositis (days) · People with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy (or both) who have oral mucositis Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | MD 0.17 [-0.97, 1.31] | 1 study · 91 participants | Ungraded |
Higher total dose radiotherapy (76.8 Gy over 6.4 weeks) vs Conventional/standard total dose radiotherapy (72 Gy) Total mortality · 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 | HR 1.08 [0.69, 1.70] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Alfentanil vs Morphine Daily mean opiate intake per hour · People with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy (or both) who have oral mucositis Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | MD -3.90 [-6.42, -1.38] | 1 study · 28 participants | Ungraded |
Clotrimazole (partially absorbed from GI tract) vs Placebo Clinical: eradication of oral candidiasis · 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 | RR 3.43 [0.51, 22.94] | 1 study · 13 participants | Ungraded |
Hyperfractionated/accelerated/split-course radiotherapy vs Conventional (standard) fractionation radiotherapy Total mortality · 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 | HR 1.02 [0.90, 1.17] | 4 studies · 1299 participants | Ungraded |
Therapist support (visits) vs Control (treatment as usual) Average pain scores (0-100 VAS) · People with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy (or both) who have oral mucositis Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | MD -5.61 [-17.25, 6.02] | 2 studies · 69 participants | Ungraded |
Fluconazole (absorbed from GI tract) vs Itraconazole (absorbed from GI tract) Mycological: eradication of oral candidiasis · 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 | RR 1.17 [1.04, 1.33] | 2 studies · 291 participants | Ungraded |
Tetrachlorodecaoxide vs Placebo Improvement in mucositis · People with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy (or both) who have oral mucositis Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | RR 1.24 [0.97, 1.58] | 1 study · 62 participants | Ungraded |
Sucralfate vs Placebo Improvement in mucositis · People with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy (or both) who have oral mucositis Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | RR 0.93 [0.71, 1.24] | 1 study · 34 participants | Ungraded |
Morning radiotherapy vs Afternoon radiotherapy Total mortality · People with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity (ICD-O C01-C06) or oropharynx (ICD-O C09-C10); head and… · 2 years Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer: radiotherapy (2010) · Cochrane | RR 1.09 [0.74, 1.59] | 1 study · 216 participants | Ungraded |
Chlorhexidine mouthwash vs Salt and soda mouthwash Average pain scores (0-100 VAS) · People with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy (or both) who have oral mucositis Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | MD -3.50 [-13.35, 6.35] | 1 study · 63 participants | Ungraded |
Low level laser therapy vs Sham (placebo) laser treatment Mucositis severity (mild to moderate) · People with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy (or both) who have oral mucositis Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | RR 5.28 [2.30, 12.13] | 2 studies · 57 participants | Ungraded |
Hyperfractionated/accelerated/split-course radiotherapy vs Conventional (standard) fractionation radiotherapy Disease free survival · 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 | Hyperfractionated/accelerated/split vs conventional, disease free survival: two trials (Fu 2000, Olmi 2003); results contradictory with substantial statistical heterogeneity (P = 0.02, I2 = 82%); no pooled estimate… | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) vs Placebo or no treatment Improvement in mucositis · People with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy (or both) who have oral mucositis · End of radiotherapy Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | RR 4.23 [1.35, 13.24] | 1 study · 61 participants | Ungraded |
Granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) vs Placebo or no treatment Improvement in mucositis · People with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy (or both) who have oral mucositis · 14 days Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | RR 2.09 [0.77, 5.68] | 1 study · 51 participants | Ungraded |
Split-course radiotherapy vs Accelerated radiotherapy Total mortality · People with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity (ICD-O C01-C06) or oropharynx (ICD-O C09-C10); head and… · 2 years Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer: radiotherapy (2010) · Cochrane | RR 1.00 [0.82, 1.22] | 1 study · 110 participants | Ungraded |
Mixed beam (neutron and photon) radiotherapy vs Conventional photon radiotherapy Total mortality · 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 | HR 1.12 [0.92, 1.36] | 1 study · 327 participants | Ungraded |
Alfentanil vs Morphine Average pain scores (0-100 VAS) · People with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy (or both) who have oral mucositis Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | MD 0.00 [-31.01, 31.01] | 1 study · 28 participants | Ungraded |
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 |
Hyperfractionated/accelerated radiotherapy vs Conventional (standard) fractionation radiotherapy Disease free survival · 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 | Hyperfractionated/accelerated vs conventional, disease free survival: one trial (Poulsen 2001); no statistically significant difference (Analysis 1.3). No pooled estimate. | 1 study | Ungraded |
Sufentanil vs Hydromorphone Average pain scores (0-100 VAS) · People with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy (or both) who have oral mucositis Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | Sufentanil vs hydromorphone (Coda 1997): no statistically significant difference; no separate estimate reported | 1 study | Ungraded |
Neutron radiotherapy vs Conventional photon radiotherapy Total mortality · 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 | HR 1.10 [0.90, 1.34] | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) vs Placebo or no treatment Time to heal mucositis (days) · People with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy (or both) who have oral mucositis Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | MD -1.10 [-3.59, 1.39] | 1 study · 35 participants | Ungraded |
Accelerated/split-course radiotherapy vs Conventional (standard) fractionation radiotherapy Total mortality · People with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity (ICD-O C01-C06) or oropharynx (ICD-O C09-C10); head and… · 5 years Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer: radiotherapy (2010) · Cochrane | RR 1.17 [0.57, 2.43] | 1 study · 147 participants | Ungraded |
Cognitive behavioural therapy vs Control (treatment as usual) Daily mean opiate intake per hour · People with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy (or both) who have oral mucositis Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | MD -0.20 [-4.29, 3.89] | 1 study · 21 participants | Ungraded |
Hyperfractionated/accelerated split-course radiotherapy vs Accelerated radiotherapy with concomitant boost Locoregional control · 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 | Fu 1995: no significant difference in locoregional control; data not presented in a way that allows calculation of an HR. | 1 study · 75 participants | Ungraded |
Morphine via patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) vs Morphine via continuous infusion (CI) Daily mean opiate intake per hour · People with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy (or both) who have oral mucositis Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | MD -0.65 [-1.20, -0.09] | 3 studies · 113 participants | Ungraded |
Cognitive behavioural therapy vs Control (treatment as usual) Average pain scores (0-100 VAS) · People with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy (or both) who have oral mucositis Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | MD -7.29 [-17.40, 2.83] | 2 studies · 68 participants | Ungraded |
Clotrimazole 50 mg (partially absorbed) vs Clotrimazole 10 mg (partially absorbed) Clinical: eradication of oral candidiasis · 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 | RR 1.00 [0.90, 1.11] | 1 study · 52 participants | Ungraded |
Morning radiotherapy vs Afternoon radiotherapy Quality of life · 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 | 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 | Ungraded |
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 |
Granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) vs Antimycotic mouthrinse Time to heal mucositis (days) · People with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy (or both) who have oral mucositis Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | MD -2.40 [-4.15, -0.65] | 1 study · 40 participants | Ungraded |
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 |
Morning radiotherapy vs Afternoon radiotherapy Locoregional control · 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 | HR 0.92 [0.60, 1.42] | 1 study · 216 participants | Ungraded |
Therapist support (visits) vs Control (treatment as usual) Daily mean opiate intake per hour · People with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy (or both) who have oral mucositis Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | MD 0.20 [-4.18, 4.58] | 1 study · 22 participants | Ungraded |
Morphine via patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) vs Morphine via continuous infusion (CI) Average pain scores (0-100 VAS) · People with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy (or both) who have oral mucositis Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | MD -2.49 [-12.28, 7.29] | 3 studies · 113 participants | Ungraded |
Debridement vs No debridement Days to clinical resolution · People with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy (or both) who have oral mucositis Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | Debridement vs no debridement (Cubukcu 2007): statistically significant benefit for debridement for days to clinical resolution; no numeric estimate reported | 1 study | Ungraded |
Ketoconazole (absorbed from GI tract) vs Placebo Clinical: eradication of oral candidiasis · 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 | RR 3.61 [1.47, 8.88] | 1 study · 56 participants | Ungraded |
Vitamin E vs Placebo (not a true placebo) Mucositis eradicated · People with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy (or both) who have oral mucositis Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | RR 6.00 [0.89, 40.31] | 1 study · 18 participants | Ungraded |
Morphine via pharmacokinetically based PCA (PKPCA) vs Morphine via patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) Average pain scores (0-100 VAS) · People with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy (or both) who have oral mucositis Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | MD -18.00 [-31.62, -4.38] | 1 study · 35 participants | Ungraded |
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 |
Benzydamine hydrochloride mouthwash vs Placebo Improvement in mucositis · People with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy (or both) who have oral mucositis Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | RR 1.22 [0.94, 1.60] | 2 studies · 102 participants | Ungraded |
Allopurinol mouthwash vs Placebo Improvement in mucositis · People with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy (or both) who have oral mucositis Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | RR 6.33 [2.18, 18.37] | 1 study · 44 participants | Ungraded |
Allopurinol mouthwash vs Placebo Mucositis eradicated · People with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy (or both) who have oral mucositis Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | RR 19.00 [1.17, 307.63] | 1 study · 44 participants | Ungraded |
Morphine via patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) vs Morphine via continuous infusion (CI) Duration of pain control therapy (days) · People with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy (or both) who have oral mucositis Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | MD -1.87 [-3.49, -0.25] | 3 studies · 113 participants | Ungraded |
Lower total dose radiotherapy (67.2 Gy over 5.6 weeks) vs Conventional/standard total dose radiotherapy (72 Gy) Total mortality · 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 | HR 1.38 [0.83, 2.29] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Fluconazole (absorbed from GI tract) vs Ketoconazole (absorbed from GI tract) Clinical: eradication of oral candidiasis · 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 | RR 1.02 [0.72, 1.42] | 1 study · 37 participants | Ungraded |
Sucralfate vs Salt and soda mouthwash Time to heal mucositis (days) · People with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy (or both) who have oral mucositis Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | MD 13.10 [-6.30, 32.50] | 1 study · 28 participants | Ungraded |
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 |
Sucralfate vs Salt and soda mouthwash Average pain scores (0-100 VAS) · People with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy (or both) who have oral mucositis Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | MD -0.30 [-1.03, 0.43] | 1 study · 29 participants | Ungraded |