Premium
Dermatitis during radiation for vulvar carcinoma: prevention and treatment with granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor impregnated gauze
Author(s) -
Kouvaris John R.,
Kouloulias Vassilios E.,
Plataniotis George A.,
Balafouta Ersi J.,
Vlahos Lampros J.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
wound repair and regeneration
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.847
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1524-475X
pISSN - 1067-1927
DOI - 10.1046/j.1524-475x.2001.00187.x
Subject(s) - medicine , radiation therapy , mann–whitney u test , surgery , carcinoma , gastroenterology , dermatology
The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) impregnated gauze in preventing or healing radiation‐induced dermatitis. Sixty‐one patients were irradiated for vulvar carcinoma. Thirty‐seven applied steroid cream at irradiated areas throughout radiotherapy (Group A) and 24 patients applied additionally GM‐CSF impregnated gauze (40μg/cm 2 of skin‐irradiated area, twice per day) in addition to the steroid cream, after 20Gy of irradiation (Group B). The score of skin reactions ( P= 0.008, chi 2 test) and the time interval of radiotherapy interruption ( P =0.037, Mann‐Whitney U test) were statistically significantly reduced in Group B patients. Multivariate analysis of variance showed for this group not only a significant reduction in the Sum of Gross Dermatitis Scoring ( P <0.001, adjusted for Duration of Dermatitis) but also a significant reduction of the healing time ( P =0.02, adjusted for Sum of Gross Dermatitis Scoring). The pain grading was less ( P= 0.014, chi 2 test) and pain reduction was noticed sooner after the application of GM‐CSF impregnated gauze ( P =0.0017, Mann‐Whitney U test). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the only significant effect on dermatitis score is due to Body Mass Index ( P =0.034) and the application of GM‐CSF ( P =0.008). GM‐CSF impregnated gauze can be effective in preventing and healing radiation‐induced dermatitis and in reducing the interruption intervals of radiotherapy for vulvar carcinomas.