{ "abstract": "Background\n\nTo establish consensus recommendations and standardized protocols for the clinical assessment and management of radiation-induced hearing loss (RIHL), a common yet potentially serious complication in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients receiving radiotherapy, for which effective treatments remain limited.Methods\n\nA two-round Delphi survey was conducted with 19 Chinese experts from diverse specialties, including radiation oncology, medical oncology, radiology, and otorhinolaryngology. Utilizing a detailed items questionnaire that addressed diagnosis, prevention, and treatment aspects of RIHL, the panel formulated consensus recommendations. Additionally, the final recommendations were formulated based on the findings of the Delphi survey, in conjunction with evidence appraised using the GRADE system.Results\n\nDuring radiotherapy planning, the implementation of dose constraints for key auditory structures-namely the tympanic cavity, internal auditory canal and cochlea-was emphasized to preserve auditory function. Diagnostic evaluations were advised to comprise comprehensive assessments such as pure tone and speech audiometry, tympanometry, otoacoustic emissions, auditory evoked potentials, otoscopic examination, and CT/MRI imaging, with classification guided by the 2021 WHO grading criteria for type and severity. Therapeutic approaches should be customized based on disease stage and underlying etiology, incorporating strategies like Eustachian tube function restoration, management of otitis media with effusion, and tailored auditory rehabilitation. However, consensus on the applicability of most interventions was limited due to insufficient or conflicting evidence, underscoring the need for further research.Conclusions\n\nThis consensus provides a structured framework to standardize clinical assessment and management of RIHL, while laying a groundwork for future studies focused on optimizing patient outcomes.", "abstract_shown": true, "affiliations": [ "Radiation Oncology Center, College of Medicine, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China.", "Department of Otolaryngology, Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing, China.", "Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fujian Key Laboratory of Translational Cancer Medicine, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.", "Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China.", "Department of Radiation Oncology, Sichuan Cancer Center, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.", "Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.", "Department of Radiation Oncology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.", "Department of Medical Oncology, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, China.", "Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Sichuan Cancer Center, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.", "Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.", "Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China.", "Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.", "Department of Otolaryngology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.", "Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.", "Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.", "Department of Radiology, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing Cancer Institute, Chongqing Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, China.", "Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.", "ENT Institute and Department of Otorhinolaryngology, EYE & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.", "Department of thyroid and breast surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.", "Hubei Key Laboratory of Precision Radiation Oncology, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.", "Department of Oncology and Hematology, Zhongxian People's Hospital, Chongqing, China.", "Department of Otolaryngology, Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing, China. weiyuan175@sina.com.", "Radiation Oncology Center, College of Medicine, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China. wangy123@cqu.edu.cn.", "Radiation Oncology Center, College of Medicine, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China. jiangdong.sui@cqu.edu.cn." ], "article_type": "review article", "arxiv": null, "author_total": 27, "authors": [ { "affs": [ 0 ], "name": "Xin Zhang" }, { "affs": [ 0 ], "name": "Si-Qi Cai" }, { "affs": [ 1 ], "name": "Hong-Jiang Chen" }, { "affs": [ 2 ], "name": "Shao-Jun Lin" }, { "affs": [ 3 ], "name": "Man Hu" }, { "affs": [ 4 ], "name": "Shi-Chuan Zhang" }, { "affs": [ 5 ], "name": "Xue-Guan Lu" }, { "affs": [ 6 ], "name": "Xiao-Shen Wang" }, { "affs": [ 7 ], "name": "Yong-Sheng Li" }, { "affs": [ 8 ], "name": "Yong-Guo Chen" }, { "affs": [ 9 ], "name": "Yu Sun" }, { "affs": [ 10 ], "name": "Hou-Yu Zhao" }, { "affs": [ 11 ], "name": "Hou-Yong Kang" }, { "affs": [ 12 ], "name": "Sui-Jun Chen" }, { "affs": [ 13 ], "name": "Jun-Lin Yi" }, { "affs": [ 14 ], "name": "Jin-Sheng Hong" }, { "affs": [ 13 ], "name": "Ye Zhang" }, { "affs": [ 15 ], "name": "Jiu-Quan Zhang" }, { "affs": [ 16 ], "name": "Fei-Yun Wu" }, { "affs": [ 17 ], "name": "Yun-Feng Wang" }, { "affs": [ 18 ], "name": "Cheng-Yao Zhang" }, { "affs": [ 19 ], "name": "Zhi-Yun Liao" }, { "affs": [ 20 ], "name": "Xue-Lian Wang" }, { "affs": [ 5 ], "name": "Zhen Zhang" }, { "affs": [ 21 ], "name": "Wei Yuan" }, { "affs": [ 22 ], "name": "Ying Wang" }, { "affs": [ 23 ], "name": "Jiang-Dong Sui" } ], "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/efptyz5dhvvh4.bib", "cited_by": 0, "doi": "10.1186/s12916-026-05062-w", "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13726270", "id": "efptyz5dhvvh4", "issns": [ "1741-7015" ], "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42972536", "language": "eng", "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND", "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND", "licence_source": "article", "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/", "metadata_licence": null, "native_subjects": [ [ "heading", "Guideline" ], [ "openalex", "2733|Head and Neck Cancer Studies" ] ], "openalex": "W7171920382", "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13726270?pdf=render", "pmcid": "PMC13726270", "pmid": "42972536", "published": "2026-07-31", "publisher": "BMC", "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/efptyz5dhvvh4.ris", "sources": [ { "first_seen": "2026-11-04T15:20:45Z", "native_id": "MED:42972536", "source": "europepmc", "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42972536" }, { "first_seen": "2026-11-05T12:22:39Z", "native_id": "PMC13726270", "source": "pmc", "url": "https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-026-05062-w" } ], "subjects": [ { "field": "medicine", "origin": "openalex:2733|Head and Neck Cancer Studies", "subfield": "general" } ], "title": "A Delphi consensus recommendations from China for the management of radiation-induced hearing loss in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.", "title_text": "A Delphi consensus recommendations from China for the management of radiation-induced hearing loss in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.", "type": "peer-reviewed", "updated_at": "2026-11-06T12:22:16Z", "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/efptyz5dhvvh4", "venue": "BMC medicine", "versions": [] }