THE SURGICAL TREATMENT OF X-RAY ULCERS

Journal Article · Tue Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1961 · Chirurg (West Germany)

OSTI ID:4740230

Held, L

Plastic surgery techniques used to treat 24 patients with skin ulcers as a result of excessive radiotherapy doses are described and extensively illustrated. The principal dangers of such unhealed ulcers are infection and malignant transformation, so that adequate surgical excision and repair are essential to avoid late complications. Ulcers may arise as late as 11/2 yr after the appearance of radiodermatitis and may be attributed mainly to the radioinduced thrombosis and destruction of blood vessels in skin. Fallure of the blood supply to outer layers of skin promotes necrosis and prevents regeneration of cellular elements. Radical surgical excision of the necrotic, fibrotic regions and plastic surgical repair are recommended as the only sure methods of lasting cure of the ulcers and prevention of their sequelae. The fluorescence method is best for delineating dead from viable tissue before surgery. Closure of the defect after surgery, with flaps of skin fat, was found to be the best method to ensure rapid repair of the grafts. In 23 of 24 patients treated in this way, satisfactory healing was obtained in an average of 4.2 months. In 2 of the 24 cases, carcinomas developed 16 and 21 yr postoperatively, respectively. It was concluded that essentially all x-ray ulcers are amenable to successful surgical treatment. (TCO)

• Research Organization: Chirurgische Universitatsklinik, Erlangen, Ger.
• NSA Number: NSA-17-017663
• OSTI ID: 4740230
• Journal Information: Chirurg (West Germany), Journal Name: Chirurg (West Germany) Vol. Vol: 32; ISSN CHIRA
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BLOOD CIRCULATION
BLOOD VESSELS
CARCINOGENESIS
DIAGNOSIS
FLUORESCENCE
INFECTIONS
MAN
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION INJURIES
RADIOTHERAPY
SKIN
SURGERY
TRANSPLANTS
X RADIATION