Docking Kimberley M, Hodges Rosemary, Campbell Lani, Chami Sara, Knijnik Stefani R, Campbell Emma, Paquier Philippe, Dalla-Pozza Luciano, Wakefield Claire E, Waugh Mary-Clare, Messina Maria, Morgan Angela T
Discipline of Speech Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Western Sydney Speech Pathology, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2025 Jul;72(7):e31749. doi: 10.1002/pbc.31749. Epub 2025 May 6.
Childhood brain tumor and leukemia (CBTL) and their treatments can have negative effects on development, including communication and swallowing. Clinical practice guideline recommendations for managing communication and swallowing difficulties in children diagnosed with CBTL were informed by (i) a systematic review using the GRADE approach to rate certainty of evidence; (ii) GRADE Evidence to Decision Framework involving an international panel of experts; and (iii) a Health Professional and Consumer survey. To improve outcomes and quality of life, children with CBLT should have access to communication and swallowing assessment and intervention from cancer diagnosis, throughout and after treatment, and across survivorship.