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Pentoxifylline in the Treatment of Radiation‐Related Soft Tissue Injury: Preliminary Observations
Author(s) -
Futran Neal D.,
Trotti Andrea,
Gwede Clement
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1097/00005537-199703000-00022
Subject(s) - pentoxifylline , soft tissue , medicine , radiation injury , soft tissue injury , radiation therapy , surgery
Soft tissue or mucosal injuries following radiotherapy of head and neck cancer include ulceration (necrosis), fibrosis, pain, and atrophy. Current management includes analgesics, wound debridement, antibiotics, and physical therapy depending on the type of injury. Pentoxifylline is a methylxanthine derivative that produces dose‐related hemorrheologic effects, lower blood viscosity, improved erythrocyte flexibility, and increased tissue oxygen levels. Twenty‐six patients with late radiation complications (occurring more than two months after x‐ray therapy) were given treatment with oral pentoxifylline: 15 for soft tissue necrosis (STN), six for fibrosis, and five for mucosal pain. Nine of 12 patients with STN completely healed. In all three failures osteoradionecrosis developed. Mucosal pain resolved in all five patients. Fibrosis improved in 67% of those patients. Pentoxifylline appears to accelerate healing of STN and reverse some late radiation injuries. This is the first series to our knowledge that documents activity of this agent in moderate radiotherapy complications such as fibrosis, pain, or mucosal fragility.