Scalp Cooling: A Literature Review of Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability for Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia .
BACKGROUND
More than 75% of patients with cancer cite alopecia as the most feared side effect of treatment, with as many as 10% considering treatment refusal. Despite wide acceptance in other countries, scalp cooling to reduce chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA) has been uncommon in the United States because of longstanding concerns of scalp metastases and a lack of reliable efficacy data.  .


OBJECTIVE
This article reviews 40 years of efficacy, safety, and tolerability literature on scalp cooling to prevent CIA.  .


METHODS
A systematic review was performed in PubMed and CINAHL®. Forty articles were reviewed, with 12 articles demonstrating high levels of evidence and meeting inclusion criteria. Comparative trials, systematic reviews, and one large single-arm trial were included.  .


RESULTS
Scalp cooling efficacy is dependent on many factors but demonstrates better hair preservation than no cooling. No increase in scalp metastases or statistically significant difference in overall survival was seen in retrospective safety data when cooling was used. Few patients discontinue cooling early because of adverse experiences.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Mikel
M
Ross
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Erica
E
Fischer-Cartlidge
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000505:Alopecia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000628:therapy*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012535:Scalp
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
chemotherapy-induced alopecia; efficacy; literature review ; safety; scalp cooling