A clinico-epidemiological study on radiation induced dermatitis in head and neck malignancy patients at a teritiary care centre in south India:

Introduction

Radiation therapy is the most common treatment modality used in the management of head and neck malignancies. Radiation dermatitis (RD) is the most common complication observed after radiation therapy. Radiation dermatitis can be defined as an adverse effect of radiotherapy which can manifest as acute erythema and desquamation, or as chronic effects including skin atrophy, telangiectasias and fibrosis. The skin is a continuously dividing organ, basal keratinocytes and melanocytes are radiosensitive. Exposure to radiation affects the cell cycle, and interferes with division. Repeated radiation exposure causes decreased time for the cell repair and increased cell injury.1,2,3

Each additional exposure leads to recruitment of inflammatory cells and direct tissue injury, wound healing is impaired by inhibition of formation of granulation tissue, fibrogenesis and angiogenesis.4

Radiation dermatitis can be classified into acute and chronic RD based on duration and type of clinical presentation. Acute RD usually manifests within hours to weeks and includes erythema, edema, pigment changes, epilation and dry or moist desquamation. (Table 1)

Chronic RD typically presents months to years after exposure. It is characterized by dermal fibrosis, poikilodermatous skin changes including both hyper and hypopigmentation, atrophy and telangiectasias. (Table 2)

There are different classification systems used for grading RD such as Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) criteria, National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria Adverse Event (NCI CTCAE) criteria and Radiation dermatitis severity score8,9

The present study aimed to study the clinico – epidemiological parameters affecting the severity of radiation dermatitis.

Materials and Methods

This was a hospital based observational study where in 84 patients who were receiving radiation therapy for head and neck malignancy attending department of radiotherapy, Father Muller Medical College, mangalore, Karnataka were included in the study. Institutional ethical clearance was obtained. All the patients developed radiation dermatitis.

Radiation dermatitis was graded by using RTOG criteria (Table 4) (Figure 1)

Erythema is defined as inflammatory reaction characterized by reddish skin that may be edematous. Dry desquamation is defined as an inflammatory reaction to radiation characterized by dry flaky skin and pruritus. Moist desquamation is defined as an inflammatory reaction characterized by serous discharge and occurs most likely in the region of friction.11

Figure 1

Grade 1 RD

Data was analyzed for statistical significance using Chi-square and paired t–test for categorical variables. Results were expressed in mean, median, frequency and standard deviation.

Results

A total number of 84 patients who were receiving radiotherapy for head and neck malignancy attending radiation oncology department from November 2016 to March 2018 who developed radiation dermatitis were included.

Age of the patients ranged between 29-80 years. Most of the patients were in between the age group of 41-50 years and the mean age was 52±6.2 years. (Table 5)

Fifty eight patients were males (69.05%) and twenty six were females (30.95%). (Table 6)

Males: Females=2.23: 1.

The most commonly observed malignancy was carcinoma tongue which was seen in 30 patients (35.7%) followed by carcinoma Buccal mucosa in 18 patients (21.4%) and the least common malignancy observed was carcinoma larynx which was seen in 1 patient (1.2%). (Table 7 )

In our study out of 84 patients 5 were receiving concurrent chemotherapy and it was not associated with progression of radiation dermatitis (p>0.05) (Table 8).

In this study out of 84 patients 8 had history of atopy and other skin disorders which was associated with early onset of radiation dermatitis which was stastistically significant (p<0.05). (Table 9) (Figure 2, Figure 3)

Figure 2

3: Grade 2 R D (Patient had history of atopy)

During the observational period all the patients developed radiation dermatitis and it was graded using RTOG criteria. (Table 10)

Development of radiation dermatitis was directly proportional to the dose of radiation received (p< 0.05).

Discussion

Radiotherapy is the most common treatment modality used in the treatment of head and neck malignancies and radiation induced dermatitis is the most common complication encountered in clinical practice. Our study enrolled 84 patients, who were receiving radiation therapy for head and neck cancers, the age of the participants ranged from 29-80 years, and mean age was 51.4±4.6 years, the most common age group involved w ere in the range of 41-50 years.

A study conducted by Saini S et al.12 enrolled 262 patients, out of which 47 patients developed acute radiation dermatitis, the age of the participants ranged from 40-70 years. Most common age group involved were in the range of 51-60 years. mean age of the participants was 48±5.4 years, but in this study all the patients who were receiving radiation for other malignancies were also included.

A study conducted by Haddad et al.13 enrolled 60 patients who were receiving radiotherapy for head and neck, breast and pelvic cancers. The age of the participants ranged from 21-78 years and the mean age of the participants was 52 years.

Conclusion

It was found that additional risk factors and co- morbidities increases the severity of radiation dermatitis.

Source of Funding

None.

Conflict of Interest

None.