Less breast cancer dermatitis with IMRT

Los Angeles -- U.S. researchers said women with breast cancer treated with intensity-modulated radiation therapy, or IMRT, have less dermatitis risk.

Dr. Gary Freedman of Fox Chase Cancer Center, in Philadelphia, said that all women treated with radiation therapy for breast cancer are at risk of developing dermatitis -- a skin condition caused by radiation as it makes its way through the skin to the tumor area.

"Dermatitis is a major quality-of-life concern," Freedman said in a statement. "In the most severe cases, the skin will actually bleed or be at risk of infection."

Freedman and colleagues analyzed the records of 804 consecutive patients with early stage breast cancer treated with surgery and radiation therapy from 2001 to 2006.

In the earlier part of the study period, women were treated with conventional radiation therapy but later in the study period, women were primarily treated with IMRT.

Freedman found fewer women treated via IMRT had serious dermatitis and for those who did it lasted for a shorter period. IMRT allows the radiation to be distributed in more beams across the skin, avoiding the full-on assault of conventional radiation, Freedman said.

The findings were presented at the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology’s 49th annual meeting in Los Angeles.

© 2007 United Press International.