Management of patients with acute radiation dermatitis. Current trends and clinical examples

Abstract

Nowadays radiotherapy is one of the main methods of cancer treatment. According to the WHO, more than 50% of patients with diagnosed malignancies need radiation therapy. However, there are a number of side effects of the latter, which are as much the task of the radiotherapist as the actual treatment of the tumor. Skin reactions are one of the most common side effects of radiation therapy, affecting up to 85-95% of patients. Radiation dermatitis is a unique pathology compared to other forms of skin damage, such as traumatic, because the radiation spreads from the epidermis to the deep tissue layers consistently. Such skin reactions can cause some discomfort in cancer patients and even real problems, including interruptions in treatment, decreased aesthetic appeal and decreased quality of life. Recent technological advances and new radiodermatitis treatment regimens represent an opportunity to alleviate the side effects of radiation therapy. Despite a variety of techniques for conservative treatment of radiation dermatitis, the most severe cases may require complex surgical reconstruction of the damaged skin, which is why correction and prevention of skin reactions is a priority in patient care. Despite the large number of trials in this area, there are few qualitative comparative studies that can provide a clear picture of the efficacy of individual radiodermatitis-relieving agents. This literature review reviews the current agents used to treat and prevent acute radiation dermatitis, as well as their mechanisms of action. Three electronic databases, including PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase, were used to find information for the systematic review.