Updates in Postmastectomy Radiation

Wright, Jean L.; Parekh, Arti

doi:10.1016/j.soc.2017.01.010

Cited by 6 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 30 publications

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“…Annually, 2.1 million women are diagnosed with breast carcinoma [ 3 ]. Adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) is frequently indicated after breast-conserving surgery [ 4 ] and in selected cases after mastectomy [ 5 ]. In early-stage breast cancer, radiotherapy significantly reduces tumour recurrence and improves overall survival [ 6 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ultrasonographic Evaluation of Skin Toxicity Following Radiotherapy of Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review

Hussein

Manan

Mustapha

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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The present review aimed to systematically review skin toxicity changes following breast cancer radiotherapy (RT) using ultrasound (US). PubMed and Scopus databases were searched according to PRISMA guidelines. The characteristics of the selected studies, measured parameters, US skin findings, and their association with clinical assessments were extracted. Seventeen studies were included with a median sample size of 29 (range 11–166). There were significant US skin changes in the irradiated skin compared to the nonirradiated skin or baseline measurements. The most observed change is skin thickening secondary to radiation-induced oedema, except one study found skin thinning after pure postmastectomy RT. However, eight studies reported skin thickening predated RT attributed to axillary surgery. Four studies used US radiofrequency (RF) signals and found a decrease in the hypodermis’s Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC). Three studies reported decreased dermal echogenicity and poor visibility of the dermis–subcutaneous fat boundary (statistically analysed by one report). The present review revealed significant ultrasonographic skin toxicity changes in the irradiated skin most commonly skin thickening. However, further studies with large cohorts, appropriate US protocol, and baseline evaluation are needed. Measuring other US skin parameters and statistically evaluating the degree of the association with clinical assessments are also encouraged.

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