Table 1 Summary of commonly used guidelines in the management of head and neck squamous carcinoma cancer of unknown primary and their methodology
Publishing/ endorsing organisation(s) | Organisation(s) abbreviation/ acronym | Year published/ updated | Publishing country | Journal | Title | Publication dedicated solely to HNSCCUP | Number of recommendations/ statements dedicated to HNSCCUP | Methodology | Patient/ public inclusion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
United Kingdom National Multidisciplinary Guidelines for Head and Neck Cancerb | UK MDT | Anticipated 2022 | UK | Journal of Laryngology and Otology | Management of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma of unknown primary (HNSCCUP): United Kingdom National Multidisciplinary Guidelines | Yes | 28 | A National Consensus Day including 227 multidisciplinary attendees generated draft statements based on systematic reviews and expert presentations. A priori methodology published. Consultation included a National Delphi Exercise to gauge consensus for inclusion of recommendation. Peer reviewed. | Patient experience presentation delivered at National Consensus Day prior to generation of draft consensus statements. |
British Association of Head and Neck Oncologists standards | BAHNO | 2021 | UK | Journal of Oral Pathology and Medicine | British Association of Head and Neck Oncologists (BAHNO) standards 2020 | No | 5 | 20 multidisciplinary authors took reference from national published guidance to inform the recommendations. No a priori methodology published. No wider consultation following development was declared. Peer reviewed. | Nil |
National Comprehensive Cancer Network | NCCN | 2021 | USA | – | Head and Neck Cancer Guidelines (Version 1.2022) | No | 4 flowchart and roughly 9 statements | Developed by a multidisciplinary panel of 36 experts and 2 support staff. A priori methodology published. No wider consultation following development was declared. No Peer review prior to publication. | Inclusion of a patient advocate on the panel is encouraged but their involvement is not explicitly declared. |
American Society of Clinical Oncology | ASCO | 2020 | USA | Journal of Clinical Oncology | Diagnosis and Management of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Unknown Primary in the Head and Neck: ASCO Guideline | Yes | 33 | 15 multidisciplinary authors formed an Expert Panel who assessed 100 relevant articles from systematic reviews. A priori methodology published. Consultation included an open public comment period of two weeks. Peer reviewed. | Draft recommendations were open to public comment on signing a confidentiality agreement. |
European Head and Neck Society, European Society for Medical Oncology, and European SocieTy for Radiotherapy and Oncology | EHNS/ESMO/ESTRO | 2020 | Europe | Annals of Oncology | Squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, larynx, oropharynx and hypopharynx: EHNS-ESMO-ESTRO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up | No | Roughly 250 words of prose | 20 multidisciplinary authors assessed evidence and wrote guidelines. A priori methodology published. No wider consultation following development declared. Peer reviewed. | Nil |
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence | NICE | 2018 | UK | – | Cancer of the upper aerodigestive tract: assessment and management in people aged 16 and over | No | 8 | A multidisciplinary advisory group forms a writing committee to generate draft statements based on ‘evidence reviews’. A priori methodology published. Consultation included release of draft guidelines for input from registered stakeholders. Peer reviewed ‘may occasionally be considered’ but not explicitly declared. | Included in the guideline generating committee. |
United Kingdom National Multidisciplinary Guidelines for Head and Neck Cancera | UK MDT | 2016 | UK | Journal of Laryngology and Otology | Investigation and management of the unknown primary with metastatic neck disease: United Kingdom National Multidisciplinary Guidelines | Yes | 10 | Five multidisciplinary experts HNC. No a priori methodology published. No wider consultation following development was declared. Peer reviewed. | Nil |