title: Effects of external beam radiation on the allograft dermal implant.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to define the effects of external beam radiation (EBR) on AlloDerm (LifeCell Corp) through the analysis of graft thickness, fibroblast recellularization, and neovascularization as a function of time.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 36) were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups (A, B, C, and D). AlloDerm was implanted subcutaneously into the hind legs of each rat, and 20 Gy of EBR was administered to one side. Grafts harvested 1, 2, 4, and 12 weeks after radiation were subjected to blinded histologic analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In groups A, B, and C, the irradiated grafts showed a significant decrease in recellularization versus nonirradiated (P < 0.001). At 12 weeks (group D), recellularization equalized, but neovascularization was significantly less (P = 0.048) in the irradiated group. Graft thickness was unaffected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the rat model, EBR of the implanted AlloDerm graft hinders recellularization in the early posttreatment period. However, EBR did not adversely affect graft thickness, recellularization or ultimate graft survival.
authors.affiliation: University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, USA.
authors.forename: H Z
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Kwiatkowski
authors.forename: K T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Montone
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rosenthal
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Chalian
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Staley
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Berlin
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Weber
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008297:Male; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000528:radiation effects; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply / Q000166:cytology; D016038:Skin Transplantation