Chinese clinical practice guidelines for the prevention and treatment of radiation‐induced esophagitis

Abstract

Radiation‐induced dermatitis is one of the most prevalent complications in patients undergoing cancer radiotherapy and poses a significant challenge in cancer therapy. The symptoms encompass erythema, dry desquamation, and moist desquamation, which are frequently observed in patients with breast cancer, head and neck cancer, anal cancer, and vulvar cancer. Early skin reactions typically manifest within 2 to 4 weeks following the commencement of radiotherapy.In severe cases, acute dermatitis can cause radiotherapy interruptions, prolong treatment time, and ultimately affect patients' outcomes and quality of life. At present, there are numerous guidelines on radiation dermatitis abroad, including the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC), British Columbia Cancer Agency (BCCA), Oncology Nursing Society (ONS), and UK Society of Radiographers (SCoR) guidelines. In China, there was a consensus drafted by dermatology experts. However, due to the differing backgrounds of experts, recommendations between guidelines vary. This guideline was developed for the first time by the Chinese radiation oncologist. This evidence‐based guideline fully considers and adopts China's national conditions; hence, itcan be easily applied in our daily practice.