Acute Radiation Therapy-related Dermatitis

Radiation therapy (RT) following breast-conserving surgical excision of cancer reduces cancer-related mortality and recurrence.1 However, most patients experience acute radiation dermatitis (ARD) within weeks after beginning RT2; symptoms of ARD, including severe skin erythema, dryness, moist or dry desquamation, and/or ulceration, may interrupt radiotherapy. This can negatively affect patient quality of life (QoL) and cancer outcomes. Acute radiation dermatitis is not to be confused with chronic radiation dermatitis, which can lead to fibrosis, skin atrophy, pigmentation, and telangiectasia months to years after RT.3 Evidence-based guidelines4 to both prevent and treat ARD recommend the application of 1 of 2 topical interventions during and/or after RT: (1) corticosteroids to improve ARD-related discomfort and itching5 or (2) 1% silver sulfadiazine (SSD) cream to reduce ARD-related dermatitis scores.6 This Evidence Corner reviews evidence supporting the 2 aforementioned topical interventions for patients undergoing RT for breast cancer.