Wound complications of adjuvant radiation therapy in patients with soft-tissue sarcomas

Journal Article · Sat Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1989 · Ann. Surg.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00000658-198907000-00014· OSTI ID:5596945

Ormsby, M V; Hilaris, B S; Nori, D; Brennan, M F

Adjuvant radiation therapy by the brachytherapy technique has been suggested by us to diminish local recurrence following resection of extremity and superficial truncal soft-tissue sarcoma. However, loading of the catheters with radioactive sources on the first through the fifth postoperative days results in a 48% significant wound-complication rate. Our previous animal experiments would suggest that delay of application of radiation to one week after wounding is accompanied by significant improvement in wound-breaking strength, new H3 hydroxyproline accumulation, and improved force-tension curves. As part of our ongoing prospective randomized trial of the effects of brachytherapy on local control, one change was made: the catheters were loaded five or more days after operation. Wound complications were then reviewed in 50 patients following this single change in brachytherapy delivery. Of the 21 patients receiving brachytherapy, 14% had significant wound complications; 10% of the 29 patients who did not receive radiation had wound complications of similar severity. This decrease in wound complications represents a major improvement over our prior experience and suggests that the timing of radioactive source loading in the postoperative period is a major factor in radiation-induced wound-healing delay.

• Research Organization: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5596945
• Journal Information: Ann. Surg.; (United States), Vol. 210:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
RADIOTHERAPY
SIDE EFFECTS
SARCOMAS
WOUNDS
HEALING
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
PATIENTS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RECOVERY
DISEASES
INJURIES
MEDICINE
NEOPLASMS
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOLOGY
RECOVERY
THERAPY
560151* - Radiation Effects on Animals- Man