title: Quantifying fibrosis in head and neck cancer treatment: An overview.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fibrosis is a common late complication of radiotherapy and/or surgical treatment for head and neck cancers. Fibrosis is difficult to quantify and formal methods of measure are not well recognized. The purpose of this review was to summarize the methods available to quantify neck fibrosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A PubMed search of articles was carried out using key words "neck" and "fibrosis."
  
  
  RESULTS
  Many methods have been used to assess fibrosis, however, there is no preferred methodology. Specific to neck fibrosis, most studies have relied upon hand palpation rating scales. Indentation and suction techniques have been used to mechanically quantify neck fibrosis. There is scope to develop applications of ultrasound, dielectric, bioimpedance, and MRI techniques for use in the neck region.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Quantitative assessment of neck fibrosis is sought after in order to compare treatment regimens and improve quality of life outcomes in patients with head and neck cancer.
authors.affiliation: Sydney Head and Neck Cancer Institute, Sydney Cancer Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.|Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Emma C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Moloney
authors.affiliation: Sydney Head and Neck Cancer Institute, Sydney Cancer Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.|Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3884-7173
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brunner
authors.affiliation: Sydney Head and Neck Cancer Institute, Sydney Cancer Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Ashlin J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.affiliation: Sydney Head and Neck Cancer Institute, Sydney Cancer Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Clark
mesh_terms: D001823:Body Composition; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000209:etiology; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D052580:Muscle Stretching Exercises; D009333:Neck / Q000473:pathology*; D037981:Neck Dissection; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011788:Quality of Life; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D033081:Shear Strength; D013057:Spectrum Analysis; D013396:Suction / Q000379:methods
keywords: fibrosis; head and neck cancer; neck; radiotherapy