A randomized, controlled, double-blind study of light emitting diode photomodulation for the prevention of radiation dermatitis in patients with breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Radiation dermatitis occurs in a majority of patients with breast cancer who receive radiation therapy (RT), causes significant pain, and may necessitate treatment delay. Light emitting diode (LED) photomodulation has been reported to minimize radiation dermatitis. This study sought to further evaluate the efficacy of LED photomodulation in lessening radiation dermatitis.


METHODS
After surgery, patients with breast cancer received LED photomodulation or sham treatments in conjunction with three-dimensional conformal RT. Reactions were evaluated using standardized photographs graded according to National Cancer Institute criteria.


RESULTS
In the LED treatment group (n=18), no patients had grade 0 reactions, six (33.3%) had grade 1 reactions, 12 (66.7%) had grade 2 reactions, and none had a grade 3 reaction. In the sham treatment group (n=15), one (6.6%) patient had a grade 0 reaction, four (26.7%) had grade 1 reactions, 9 (60.0%) had grade 2 reactions, and one (6.7%) had a grade 3 reaction. Two (11.1%) patients in the LED treatment group and one (6.7%) in the control group had to interrupt treatment. Differences between groups were not statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
LED photomodulation did not reduce the incidence of radiation-induced skin reactions or interruptions in therapy. .
Department of Dermatology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.
Douglas
D
Fife
David J
DJ
Rayhan
Shahdad
S
Behnam
Arisa
A
Ortiz
Laila
L
Elkeeb
Lisa
L
Aquino
D
D
Eduardo Roa
Nilam
N
Ramsinghani
Jeffrey
J
Kuo
Robert
R
Newcomb
Christopher B
CB
Zachary
Kristen M
KM
Kelly
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011855:Radiodermatitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013819:Thermoluminescent Dosimetry; D016896:Treatment Outcome