[The treatment of cutaneous radiation-induced fibrosis with pentoxifylline and vitamin E. An empirical report].
BACKGROUND
Radiation fibrosis represents a severe complication of radiation therapy; standardized treatment protocols are lacking so far. Surgical excision rarely results in complete healing.


METHODS
We report on a 58-year-old female patient who developed a squamous cell carcinoma within the fibrotic area of the irradiation field on the right chest, resulting from a radiotherapy following mastectomy for breast cancer 17 years ago. After surgical excision of the carcinoma a combined treatment with pentoxifylline tablets (3 x 400 mg/d p.o.) and vitamin-E capsules (1 x 400 mg/d p.o.) was initiated. Skin thickness was quantified by 20 MHz-ultrasound before and during treatment.


RESULTS
The patient noted an increasing improvement of the condition of the affected skin starting from 4 months. A continuing decrease of skin thickness as documented by 20 MHz-ultrasound could be demonstrated from the 6th month on. The treatment was tolerated well, no side effects were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
The data indicate a beneficial therapeutic effect of pentoxifylline and vitamin E on radiation-induced fibrosis. Little is known about the mechanism of action of this combined treatment protocol including pentoxifylline and vitamin E. Controlled clinical trials should be performed to confirm this observation.
Gottlöber
P
P
Dermatologische Klinik und Poliklinik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München.
Krähn
G
G
Korting
H C
HC
Stock
W
W
Peter
R U
RU
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011855:Radiodermatitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014810:Vitamin E; D010431:Pentoxifylline
Behandlung der kutanen Strahlenfibrose mit Pentoxifyllin und Vitamin E. Ein Erfahrungsbericht.