Science AI Journal
Medicine · Research topic

Open research questions in Head and Neck Surgical Oncology

85 gap statements mined from Head and Neck Surgical Oncology papers in our 4.5M-paper local library, which holds 612 papers on the topic — drawn mostly from each paper's own stated research gap, future-work, challenge and limitation notes, and its abstract. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one.

Choosing where to publish on Head and Neck Surgical Oncology? See the ranked Medicine journals.

What the literature leaves open

  • There is a lack of detailed morphometric data on the foramen rotundum. Prior studies have not fully considered the anatomical variations of the foramen rotundum.

    CT-based morphometry of the foramen rotundum: a cross-sectional study · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a lack of understanding of the clinical presentation, management outcomes, and causes of recurrence of spontaneous CSF otorrhea or otorhinorrhea from skull base defects. The condition has a low incidence and insidious onset, making it challenging to diagnose and manage.

    Diagnosis and management of spontaneous CSF otorrhea associated with skull base defects · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a need for a simple, reproducible, and low-cost reconstructive technique for dural and osseous defect closure after anterior petrosectomy. Prior reconstructive strategies have limitations related to increased morbidity, longer operative time, high costs, or limited availability.

    Reconstrucción de bajo costo mediante técnica “tejida” para defectos de la fosa media después de petrosectomía anterior · 2026 · DOI

  • The association of a meningioma and a meningoencephalocele is extremely rare and poses diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. There is a need for further research on the diagnosis and treatment of this condition.

    A rare combination of a meningioma and an ethmoidal meningoencephalocele with osteo-dural defect: Diagnostic and therapeutic challenges · 2026 · DOI

  • Whether such a predisposition modulates recovery after surgical CSF leak repair remains an open question that prospective studies with adequate longitudinal follow-up should address. Beyond the question of pre-existing headache vulnerability, the postoperative symptom trajectories themselves reveal a clinically important and poorly understood degree of heterogeneity.

    Persistent headache burden after surgical treatment of post-dural puncture headache: a cross-sectional study · 2026 · DOI

  • Radical surgery for LA-MSC is associated with substantial cosmetic deformity and functional impairment. The outcomes of systemic chemotherapy for LA-MSC remain unsatisfactory compared with those of curative surgical treatment.

    Clinical effectiveness of intra-arterial chemoradiotherapy for advanced maxillary sinus carcinoma: based on the reports of the head and neck cancer registry of Japan · 2026 · DOI

  • The outcomes of systemic chemotherapy for LA-MSC remain unsatisfactory compared with those of curative surgical treatment. There is a need to evaluate the effectiveness of IA-CRT compared with IV-CRT in patients with LA-MSC.

    Clinical effectiveness of intra-arterial chemoradiotherapy for advanced maxillary sinus carcinoma: based on the reports of the head and neck cancer registry of Japan · 2026 · DOI

  • Further studies are needed to assess the long-term outcomes of patients undergoing the endoscopic-assisted transoral approach. Comparison to other surgical approaches is necessary to determine the optimal treatment strategy. Assessment of the technique for malignant PPS tumors is required.

    Assessment of endoscopic-assisted transoral approach excision to benign parapharyngeal space tumors · 2026 · DOI

  • The study has a retrospective design. There is a lack of a control group. The follow-up time is variable. A non-validated VAS was used for cosmetic assessment.

    Endoscope-assisted transoral removal of benign midline cervical neoplasms: A preliminary study · 2026 · DOI

  • The need to identify factors associated with successful outcomes of endoscopic techniques for re-establishing CSF circulation.

    Endoscopic Techniques for Re-establishing Cerebrospinal Fluid Circulation in Ventricular Tumors · 2026 · DOI

  • However, unlike ASD, patent foramen ovale, or LAAO devices, data regarding endothelialization and thrombotic risk after tPVLc remain scarce, and no dedicated recommendations currently exist.

    Antithrombotic therapy after percutaneous closure of paravalvular leaks: Patterns of use and clinical outcomes in a single-center retrospective registry · 2026 · DOI

  • Current guidelines limit the indication for PFO closure to patients with a prior ischemic cerebral event. There is a need for more research on PFO closure for other indications.

    A look from a distance on patent foramen ovale closure · 2026 · DOI

  • The study faced challenges in terms of selection bias and limited completeness of data collection due to its retrospective design. The study had to adapt to the inconsistent use of FESS and ESS terminology in the operative records.

    Endoscopic surgical treatment of sinonasal Schneiderian papillomas: our experience · 2026 · DOI

  • The study has a retrospective design, which may have introduced selection bias and limited the completeness of data collection. The study did not use frozen-section margin assessment routinely. The study had a limited sample size.

    Endoscopic surgical treatment of sinonasal Schneiderian papillomas: our experience · 2026 · DOI

  • The need for a reliable and safe reconstructive technique after unilateral resection of sinonasal tumors. The lack of understanding of the impact of graft type on the efficacy and safety of the reconstructive strategy.

    Septal flip flap after endoscopic unilateral resection of sinonasal tumors: a multicenter experience of 133 patients · 2026 · DOI

  • The complexity of the defect and the need for a multidisciplinary approach. The risk of complications, such as cerebrospinal fluid leakage and meningitis.

    Multidisciplinary management of frontoethmoidal meningoencephalocele: an institutional experience highlighting the role of endoscopic skull base reconstruction · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a lack of data on the use of endoscopic skull base reconstruction in the treatment of FMEC. The role of the otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeon in the management of FMEC is not well established.

    Multidisciplinary management of frontoethmoidal meningoencephalocele: an institutional experience highlighting the role of endoscopic skull base reconstruction · 2026 · DOI

  • The evidence base for the use of dexamethasone as a perineural adjuvant in scalp blocks is predominantly from regional techniques other than the scalp block. The extrapolation to transsphenoidal surgery remains to be confirmed by dedicated trials.

    Multimodal Neuroanesthesia with an Ultrasound-Guided Dexamethasone-Adjuvanted Scalp Block for Endoscopic Transsphenoidal Resection of a Giant Sellar-Suprasellar Rathke Cleft Cyst: A Case Report · 2026 · DOI

  • To date, no reports have detailed use of a CNN to identify subtle osseous changes and potentially detect PitNETs based on CT bone windows alone.

    Clinical application of artificial intelligence algorithms in detecting clival remodeling in the setting of pituitary neuroendocrine tumors/pituitary adenomas · 2026 · DOI

  • There is still no universal agreement on the ideal approach to frontal sinus trauma. The management of frontal sinus fractures requires careful evaluation and treatment to avoid long-term problems.

    Current Concepts in Frontal Sinus Fracture Management · 2026 · DOI

  • Limited follow-up period of 10 days to 6 weeks postoperatively.

    Delineating the Intradural Space: A Comparative Series of Spinal Cord Lesions · 2026 · DOI

  • Herein, the authors describe the successful performance of a C1–2 CSF tap in a 6-month-old infant for diagnostic evaluation of suspected meningitis, highlighting the technical considerations, safety measures, and clinical implications of this rarely reported approach in infancy.

    C1–2 CSF tap in a 6-month-old infant: illustrative case · 2026 · DOI

  • Further study of the functional significance of the occipital emissary vein and its foramina. Examination of the anatomy of the occipital emissary vein and its foramina in other age groups. Development of new surgical techniques for skull base surgery informed by the study's findings.

    The enigmatic occipital emissary vein, foramina, and canals: anatomical study with application to skull base surgery · 2026 · DOI

  • Further validation of this procedure in a larger patient population. Prospective trials to evaluate long-term outcomes. The use of validated instruments for aesthetic outcomes assessment.

    Endoscope-assisted transoral removal of benign midline cervical neoplasms: A preliminary study · 2026 · DOI

  • Further study of the clinical, radiological, and histopathological variability of intradural spinal tumors. Investigation of the optimal surgical management of intradural spinal tumors. Examination of the long-term outcomes of patients with intradural spinal tumors.

    Delineating the Intradural Space: A Comparative Series of Spinal Cord Lesions · 2026 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Head and Neck Surgical Oncology

Most recent work

Find a gap in your own Head and Neck Surgical Oncology sub-topic

This page shows what the Head and Neck Surgical Oncology literature already flags as unresolved. To narrow it to your specific question, search the Research Gap Finder: the search is free with a free account and lists the papers closest to your topic first. Unlocking that topic (50 credits, charged once) fills the comparison table from our 4.5M-paper local library and writes the gaps from its rows.

Open the Research Gap Finder →

Related topics in Medicine

Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare and Education
2,304 open questions
Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
1,956 open questions
Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
1,232 open questions
Ferroptosis and cancer prognosis
1,146 open questions
Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment
1,049 open questions
Smoking Behavior and Cessation
1,025 open questions
Physical Activity and Health
1,002 open questions
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
982 open questions
Open questions raised by papers listed on this page include: (1) There is a lack of detailed morphometric data on the foramen rotundum (“CT-based morphometry of the foramen rotundum: a cross-sectional study”, 2026); (2) There is a lack of understanding of the clinical presentation, management outcomes, and causes of recurrence of spontaneous CSF otorrhea or otorhinorrhea from skull base defects (“Diagnosis and management of spontaneous CSF otorrhea associated with skull base…”, 2026); (3) There is a need for a simple, reproducible, and low-cost reconstructive technique for dural and osseous defect closure after anterior petrosectomy (“Reconstrucción de bajo costo mediante técnica “tejida” para defectos de la fosa…”, 2026); (4) There is a need for further research on the diagnosis and treatment of this condition (“A rare combination of a meningioma and an ethmoidal meningoencephalocele with…”, 2026); (5) Whether such a predisposition modulates recovery after surgical CSF leak repair remains an open question that prospective studies with adequate longitudinal follow-up should address (“Persistent headache burden after surgical treatment of post-dural puncture…”, 2026). 85 gap statements have been mined from Head and Neck Surgical Oncology papers in our 4.5M-paper local library, which holds 612 papers on the topic; the gaps come from whichever of those papers state one. They are mostly the research gaps the authors state and the papers' abstracts, plus future-work, limitations and challenges passages. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one, so you can read the original claim in context.

Tools for your next paper

Gaps & Literature SearchFind open questions in any field — 120,000+ open gaps mined from our own library.Pre-CheckIs your paper ready? Acceptance odds for top, mid and open/emerging journals, in seconds.Journal FinderA ranked shortlist of target journals from a 17,500-venue index.Duplicate Publication CheckerCheck for prior publication across 7 sources and our local library.Citation GeneratorFreeA DOI or title → APA, MLA, Vancouver, Chicago, BibTeX, RIS. No signup.Graphical Abstract MakerFreeTurn your findings into a colorblind-safe graphical abstract.

How Pre-Check worksHow AI Review works

Compare the category — Honest roundups of the AI research tools, ours listed alongside the alternatives.

Command palette

Jump anywhere, run any action.