FATAL COMPLICATIONS OF RADIATION INJURIES TO SKIN

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1962 · Radiobiol. Radiother.

OSTI ID:4143737

Kolar, J; Vrabec, R; Kral, Z

Three cases of fatal ulcerations produced by irradiation for cancer or metastases are described. The first case was irradiated postoperatively for mammary cancer. Skin necrosis appeared four years later and was repaired by transplants. Minor recurring skin surface erosions were repaired conservatively. Subsequent to later irradiation for parotid carcinoma, new erosion of the cicatrix with depigmentation, telangectasis, atrophy, and irregnlar deep ulceration with pus secretion appeared. No malignant degeneration was observed, but the thoracic wall perforated at the ulceration site and was followed by lung fibrosis, radionecrosis of the lung, spontaneous fracture of three ribs, empyemia, and terminal circulatory failure. The second patient was irradiated three times in two years for leukemia and polycythemia vera. Three months after an ulcer appeared in the right inguinal area where a metastatic lymph node had been irradiated. The first radiation series (2400 r) had been given in single doses of 300 r in three weeks, and each of the second and third series amounted to 1200 r given over 2-month periods. The ulcer became progressively necrotic, erosion of the femoral artery followed, and the patient expired from hemorrhage. No evidence of malignancy was found in the ulcerated tissue. The third patient was irradiated in the inguinal area after partial castration for testicular seminoma with inguinal metastases. In one series he received 3000 r in the right inguinal area (single dose, 400 r). Skin necrosis soon followed. The lesion whitened in the area of the femur neck. The bone showed hypertrophic atrophy. Two years after plastic reconstruction the lesion reappeared and deepened, and after repeated operative repairs the patient died of hemorrhage from the femoral artery. (BBB)

• Research Organization: Charles Univ., Prague
• NSA Number: NSA-18-005101
• OSTI ID: 4143737
• Journal Information: Radiobiol. Radiother., Journal Name: Radiobiol. Radiother. Vol. Vol: 3
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: German

Related Subjects

ARTERIES
BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BLOOD CIRCULATION
BLOOD VESSELS
BONES
CANCER
DISEASES
DISTRIBUTION
ERYTHROCYTES
FEMUR
GLANDS
GONADS
HEMORRHAGE
LEUKEMIA
LUNGS
LYMPH SYSTEM
MAMMARY GLANDS
MAN
MEDICINE
METASTASES
NECROSIS
PAROTID GLANDS
PIGMENTS
POLYCYTHEMIA
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION INJURIES
RADIOTHERAPY
SEMINOMAS
SKIN
SURGERY
SURVIVAL TIME
TRANSPLANTS
ULCERS