Macleod, N., Price, A., O'Rourke, N., Fallon, M., & Laird, B. (2014). Radiotherapy for the treatment of pain in malignant pleural mesothelioma: A systematic review. Lung Cancer (Amsterdam, Netherlands), 83, 133–138. 

DOI Link

Purpose

STUDY PURPOSE: To examine the evidence for the use of radiotherapy to treat pain in malignant pleural mesothelioma
 
TYPE OF STUDY: Systematic review

Search Strategy

DATABASES USED: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library
 
KEYWORDS: Detailed search terms per database are reported
 
INCLUSION CRITERIA: Malignant pleural mesothelioma diagnosed histologically or radiologically; radiotherapy given for the purpose of treatment of pain; response rates reported; documentation of dose and fractionation given; English language
 
EXCLUSION CRITERIA: None specified

Literature Evaluated

TOTAL REFERENCES RETRIEVED: 1,480
 
EVALUATION METHOD AND COMMENTS ON LITERATURE USED: Not described, though levels of evidence reported

Sample Characteristics

  • FINAL NUMBER STUDIES INCLUDED = 8
  • TOTAL PATIENTS INCLUDED IN REVIEW = 444
  • SAMPLE RANGE ACROSS STUDIES: 19–189 patients

 

Phase of Care and Clinical Applications

PHASE OF CARE: Late-effects and survivorship
 
APPLICATIONS: Palliative care

Results

All of the evidence was reported as low with levels of 3 or 2 (specific grading scale not described). Response rates varied from 0%–69%. Six of the studies included were retrospective case series. Two studies did not document pain, and three studies did not use any clear measure of pain.

Conclusions

The effectiveness of radiotherapy for pain palliation in this group of patients is unclear.

Limitations

  • Relatively few studies
  • Low-level evidence due to study design issues

Nursing Implications

Evidence regarding the effectiveness of radiotherapy for the treatment of pain from malignant pleural mesothelioma is lacking. Further well-designed research using valid tools for pain measurement is needed.

Legacy ID

4817