Modern Dressings in Prevention and Therapy of Acute and Chronic Radiation Dermatitis-A Literature Review

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Radiotherapy is an integral part of modern oncology, applied to more than half of all patients diagnosed with cancer. It can be used alone or in combination with surgery or chemotherapy. However, despite the high precision of radiation delivery, irradiation may affect surrounding healthy tissues leading to the development of toxicity. The most common and clinically significant toxicity of radiotherapy is acute and chronic radiation dermatitis, which could result in desquamation, wounds, nonhealing ulcers, and radionecrosis. Moreover, preoperative radiotherapy impairs wound healing after surgery and may lead to severe wound complications. In this review, we comprehensively discuss available types of dressings used in the management of acute and chronic radiation dermatitis and address their efficacy. The most effective ways of preventing acute radiation dermatitis are film dressings, whereas foam dressings were found effective in its treatment. Data regarding dressings in chronic radiation dermatitis are scarce. This manuscript also contains authors' consensus.

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

Browse all related research

Filter the research library by this study's title keywords, author, or publication year.