Relationships between the changes of skin temperature and radiation skin injury

Abstract

Background: Radiation skin injury (RSI) causes changes in skin temperature, but detailed information on the thermographic responses is currently lacking. We investigated thermographic patterns after radiotherapy. We hypothesized that skin temperature may be used as a diagnostic and early predictor of RSI severity. Method: All breast cancer patients received radiotherapy after unilateral postmastectomy. The contralateral supraclavicular area served as control, and the frontal thermal image of torso was taken by a thermal infrared imager weekly. We defined areas of interest on bilateral symmetrical supraclavicular area, and analyzed the difference of average and maximum skin temperature (DST average and DST max ) between them. The extent of the weekly variation in DST (DSTW) was calculated using a mathematical formula to represent a trend of skin temperature change. RSI and symptoms related to RSI were scored from baseline to 2 weeks after the end of radiotherapy. Results: Forty-one patients were enrolled in this study. In comparison to the baseline, the DST average and DST max increased significantly over time during radiotherapy (p < .05). The onset of DST increase was accompanied by the onset of radiation dermatitis, and the maximal DST also appeared at the peak of Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) and symptom scores. Radiation dose, DST average , burning-feeling and pulling were the independent variables affecting RTOG score according to multivariate analysis (p < .001, p< .034, p< .001, p< .001). Patients with DSTW average >1.223 or DSTW max >1.114 in second week showed a late higher dermatitis score (RTOG score !2). Conclusion: This study confirmed that RSI was associated with thermographic response. Our results suggested that the follow-up observations of skin temperature during radiotherapy could provide the objective evaluation criteria and prediction methods for RSI. ARTICLE HISTORY

Opium poisoning following self‐medication of radiation‐induced dermatitis with topical use of opium latex traditional extract; a teaching case

“…Interestingly, a recent study by Zhu et al demonstrated that in comparison to the baseline, the difference of average and maximum skin temperature increased significantly over time during radiotherapy ( p <.05). The onset of this increase was accompanied by radiation dermatitis, and the maximal temperature change also appeared at the peak of Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) scores 30 . All the factors mentioned above may have their specific role in the culmination of our patient's home remedy with opioid overdose symptoms and emergency admission.…”

“…The onset of this increase was accompanied by radiation dermatitis, and the maximal temperature change also appeared at the peak of Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) scores. 30 All the factors mentioned above may have their specific role in the culmination of our patient's home remedy with opioid overdose symptoms and emergency admission. Furthermore, the existing moist environment (tissue hydration) and the occlusive nature of the latex residue applied on the skin possibly contributed further to both systemic absorption and skin infection.…”

Twelve-Month Evaluation of Temperature Effects of Radiotherapy in Patients after Mastectomy

“…The trend of the reduced the temperature at 6 months after RT was observed, which may relate to the healing process. The general recovery of irradiated tissue will probably lead to temperature equalization over the long-term follow-up period [ 45 ]. However, late radiation effects may change the local microenvironment and tissue metabolism owing to persistent subtle differences in temperature.…”

The Use of Thermal Imaging in the Evaluation of Temperature Effects of Radiotherapy in Patients after Mastectomy—First Study

“…Cancer cells that divide rapidly are more susceptible to ionizing radiation-they are said to be radiosensitive. Based on the available literature on the effects of radiotherapy on the body, as well as on the knowledge of the effects of radiation over time, it has been assumed that radiotherapy can cause changes in the body temperature that we can observe with thermovision [50][51][52][53].…”