A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Prognostic Value of Tumor Response Measurements During…

Meta-analysisClinical oncology (Royal College of Radiologists (Great Britain))· Aug 2026

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Prognostic Value of Tumor Response Measurements During Radiotherapy for Head and Neck cancers.

S H Poulsen, R Jørgensen, I Vogelius, J Friborg

Nuclear & Molecular ImagingMeta-analysisPrognosis

Low tumor volume reduction on computed tomography during radiotherapy strongly predicts worse loco-regional control.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Prognostic Value of Tumor Response Measurements During Radiotherapy for Head and Neck cancers.

S H Poulsen … J Friborg

Clinical oncology (Royal College of Radiologists (Great Britain)) · Aug 2026

Purpose

This review evaluates the literature on the prognostic value of in-treatment tumor response measurements during radiotherapy for head and neck cancer, assessing the most commonly used imaging modalities through meta-analysis.

Methods

A systematic literature search was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

n = 98 studies

Results

HR: 4.6

minimal shrinkage on computed tomography during treatment means much worse loco-regional control

n = 98 studies

More results

18 F-fluorodeoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) (32 studies), magnetic resonance imaging (magnetic resonance imaging) (31 studies), and computed tomography (computed tomography) (11 studies) were the most frequently used modalities.

More results

High SUVmax on FDG-PET during treatment was a significant prognostic marker for both poorer OS (HR: 1.97) and loco-regional control (HR: 1.72).

In contrast, changes in apparent diffusion coefficient (apparent diffusion coefficient) on magnetic resonance imaging showed no significant prognostic value for loco-regional control (HR: 0.97).

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Conclusion · 1 of 2

Tumor volume reduction rate on computed tomography and SUVmax on FDG-PET are promising prognostic markers for treatment response during radiotherapy in head and neck cancer.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

apparent diffusion coefficient measurements from magnetic resonance imaging show limited prognostic value.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Prognostic Value of Tumor Response Measurements During Radiotherapy for Head and Neck cancers.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Prognostic Value of Tumor Response Measurements During Radiotherapy for Head and Neck cancers.

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