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An ultrasonographic evaluation of skin thickness in breast cancer patients after postmastectomy radiation therapy.
- Source :
-
Radiation oncology (London, England) [Radiat Oncol] 2011 Jan 24; Vol. 6, pp. 9. Date of Electronic Publication: 2011 Jan 24. - Publication Year :
- 2011
-
Abstract
- Background: To determine the usefulness of ultrasonography in the assessment of post radiotherapy skin changes in postmastectomy breast cancer patients.<br />Methods: Patients treated for postmastectomy radiotherapy in National University Hospital (NUH) and Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH), Singapore between January 2004- December 2005 was recruited retrospectively. Ultrasound scan was performed on these Asian patients who had been treated to a total dose of 46-50 Gy with 1 cm bolus placed on the skin. The ultrasound scans were performed blinded to the RTOG scores, and the skin thickness of the individually marked points on the irradiated chest wall was compared to the corresponding points on the non-irradiated breast.<br />Results: The mean total skin thickness inclusive of the epidermis and the dermis of the right irradiated chest wall was 0.1712 mm (± 0.03392 mm) compared with the contra-lateral non-irradiated breast which was 0.1845 mm (± 0.04089 mm; p = 0.007). The left irradiated chest wall had a mean skin thickness of 0.1764 mm (± 0.03184 mm) compared with the right non-irradiated breast which was 0.1835 mm (± 0.02584 mm; p = 0.025). These independent t-tests produced a significant difference of reduced skin thickness on the right irradiated chest wall, p = 0.007 (p < 0.05) and left irradiated chest wall p = 0.025 (p < 0.025) in comparison to the non-irradiated skin thickness investigating chronic skin reactions. Patients with grade 2 acute skin toxicity presented with thinner skin as compared to patients with grade 1 (p = 0.006).<br />Conclusions: This study has shown that there is a statistically significant difference between the skin thicknesses of the irradiated chest wall and the contra-lateral non-irradiated breast and a predisposition to chronic reactions was found in patients with acute RTOG scoring of grade1 and grade 2.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Aged
Breast Neoplasms diagnostic imaging
Carcinoma diagnostic imaging
Cicatrix diagnostic imaging
Combined Modality Therapy adverse effects
Female
Humans
Mastectomy
Middle Aged
Models, Biological
Organ Size radiation effects
Organs at Risk diagnostic imaging
Organs at Risk pathology
Organs at Risk radiation effects
Prognosis
Radiotherapy Dosage
Radiotherapy, Adjuvant adverse effects
Retrospective Studies
Ultrasonography
Breast Neoplasms radiotherapy
Breast Neoplasms surgery
Carcinoma radiotherapy
Carcinoma surgery
Skin diagnostic imaging
Skin pathology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1748-717X
- Volume :
- 6
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Radiation oncology (London, England)
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 21261940
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1186/1748-717X-6-9