A meta-analysis of the relationship among impaired taste and treatment, treatment type, and tumor site in head and neck cancer treatment survivors
To understand how taste impairment caused by head and neck cancer treatment changes over time or varies with treatment site or type.



Ovid MEDLINE® database was searched for reports of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in head and neck cancer treatment survivors (HNCTS), which included taste function in a HRQOL instrument from 1946-2013. Eligible studies compared taste scores from baseline to post-treatment, using two treatment types or two cancer sites.



247 reports were identified; 19 were suitable for meta-analysis.



A series of dichotomous meta-analyses were conducted using comprehensive meta-analysis software .PRESENTATION OF FINDINGS: Taste scores were statistically significantly worse after treatment; the summary effect for the standard measure difference between pretreatment and post-treatment taste scores was 0.353 (p < 0.001). Patients treated with radiation therapy (RT) reported statistically significant worse taste function post-treatment than those who received no RT; the summary effect for the standard mean differences in taste scores was 0.77 (p = 0.001). Differences in tumor site were not significant.



Taste dysfunction is a long-term complication for HNCTS, and nurses should screen survivors for this sensory dysfunction.
School of Nursing, Saint Louis University in Missouri.
Laura
L
McLaughlin
School of Nursing, Saint Louis University in Missouri.
Suzanne
0000-0003-0919-6444
S
Mahon
D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology; D013651:Taste Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D055697:Taste Perception / Q000528:radiation effects*
biostatistics; head/neck malignancies; late effects of cancer treatment; quality of life; radiation therapy