Radiotherapy and wound healing: Principles, management and prospects (Review)

Abstract

Abstract. radiation therapy is a major therapeutic modality in the management of cancer patients. Over 60% of these patients receive radiotherapy at some point during their course of treatment and over 90% will develop skin reactions after therapy. problematic wound healing in radiation-damaged tissue constitutes a major surgical difficulty and despite all efforts, irradiated skin remains a therapeutic challenge. this review provides an overview of the fundamental principles of radiation therapy with regards to the wound healing in normal and irradiated skin. Furthermore, it presents techniques that describe how to prevent and manage skin side effects as well as prospects that may improve cutaneous wound repair in general and in irradiated skin.

Conservative mastectomy versus nipple-sparing mastectomy: preliminary considerations of oncological safety on 30 patients not receiving intra-operative radiotherapy

“…Its acute effects are skin erythema and edema, indicating vasodilatation and increased vessel permeability, but whose long-term effect is hindrance rather than facilitation of blood flow (16). Dry desquamation could follow with healing over several weeks or in some cases partial or complete NAC loss.…”

Complication of an Ahmed glaucoma valve implant: tube exposure with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection

“…Prior radiation exposure is known to cause modification of ocular tissues leading to tear insufficiency and poor wound healing. 8,9 His lid and sinus anatomy were altered from multiple facial surgeries, and the preexisting MRSA infection likely caused colonization with involvement of the ocular surface, although there was no sign of active infection involving the head and neck area at the time of surgery.…”

Cell and Tissue Damage after Skin Exposure to Ionizing Radiation: Short- and Long-Term Effects after a Single and Fractional Doses

“…keloid [Ogawa et al, 2009] and a variety of malignant tumors). Over 60% of cancer patients receive radiation therapy at some point during their course of treatment [Gieringer et al, 2011]. Irradiation generally damages immature and proliferating cells more severely than it damages terminally differentiated cells, which explains why radiation therapy selectively targets rapidly growing neoplasms [Marcu, 2010;Prasanna et al, 2012;Hubenak et al, 2014].…”

“…The types of acute radiation skin injury include erythema, dry desquamation and alopecia [Gieringer et al, 2011;Horton et al, 2013]. Long-term adverse effects tend to be underestimated and include fibrosis, ischemia, atrophy and malignant changes [Olascoaga et al, 2008;Gieringer et al, 2011;Prasanna et al, 2012;Chin et al, 2013;Horton et al, 2013].…”