Radiation therapy toxicity to the skin.
Radiation therapy has been integral to cancer patient care. The skin is an intentional and unintentional target of therapy, and is sensitive to the volume of normal tissue in the radiation therapy treatment field, daily treatment dose (fractionation), and total treatment dose. We must understand the relationship of these factors to patient outcome as we move toward hypofractionation treatment strategies (radiosurgery). Chemotherapy agents and prescription medications may influence therapy-associated sequelae. Understanding this may prevent significant injury and discomfort. This article reviews established platforms of radiation therapy and sequelae associated with skin therapy. Interactions with other agents and possible predisposition to sequelae are reviewed. Skin cancer resulting from treatment and disease processes associated with possible limited outcome are also reviewed.
Fitzgerald
T J
TJ
Department of Radiation Oncology and The Cancer Center, The University of Massachusetts Medical School, UMass Memorial Health Care, 55 Lake Avenue N., Worcester, MA 01655, USA. fitzgert@ummhc.org
Jodoin
Maryann Bishop
MB
Tillman
Gayle
G
Aronowitz
Jesse
J
Pieters
Richard
R
Balducci
Susan
S
Meyer
Joshua
J
Cicchetti
M Giulia
MG
Kadish
Sidney
S
McCauley
Shelagh
S
Sawicka
Joanna
J
Urie
Marcia
M
Lo
Y C
YC
Mayo
Charles
C
Ulin
Kenneth
K
Ding
Linda
L
Britton
Maureen
M
Huang
Jiayi
J
Arous
Edward
E
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D017592:Skin Care; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents