Effect of laser therapy on quality of life in patients with radiation-induced breast telangiectasias Journal Article
| Authors: | Rossi, A. M.; Blank, N. R.; Nehal, K.; Dusza, S.; Lee, E. H. |
| Article Title: | Effect of laser therapy on quality of life in patients with radiation-induced breast telangiectasias |
| Abstract: | Objective: To evaluate the effects of laser monotherapy on quality of life in breast cancer patients with chronic radiation dermatitis. Study Design: A prospective, IRB-approved study was conducted at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Breast cancer patients with chronic radiation dermatitis completed health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) questionnaires before and after laser monotherapy for radiation-induced breast telangiectasias (RIBT). Methods: After informed consent, all patients were issued the Skindex-16 and Breast-Q Adverse Effects of Radiation HR-QOL questionnaires prior to receiving laser treatment. Patients were treated with a 595 nm pulsed dye laser at 4- to 6-week intervals, with percent telangiectasia clearance and adverse events recorded at each visit. Post-treatment HR-QOL questionnaires were collected after clinician-assessed telangiectasia clearance of >50%. Median HR-QOL scores before and after therapy were reported for individual HR-QOL domains (Skindex-16) and HR-QOL totals (Skindex-16 and Breast-Q Adverse Effects of Radiation). Before- and after-differences were calculated using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test. Results: Twenty-two female patients (average age 56 years) enrolled in this study. A majority (13/22, 59%) exhibited telangiectasias across the décolletage and axilla in addition to the breast. Sixteen patients reached the 50% RIBT clearance threshold during the study period, and 11 of these patients (69%) completed follow-up HR-QOL questionnaires. Patients showed statistically significant improvements in emotional and functional Skindex-16 HR-QOL domains and in overall Skindex-16 HR-QOL score. Breast-Q scores also improved significantly, illustrating a decrease in specific physical and cosmetic concerns common to radiated breast skin. Common adverse events were transient post-treatment pain and redness. Conclusion: Breast cancer patients with RIBT presented with substantial deficits in several HR-QOL arenas. Laser monotherapy effectively treated the appearance of radiation dermatitis in these patients and also significantly improved HR-QOL. Lasers Surg. Med. 50:284–290, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. |
| Keywords: | breast cancer; radiation dermatitis; health related quality of life; telangiectasias; pulsed dye laser |
| Journal Title: | Lasers in Surgery and Medicine |
| Volume: | 50 |
| Issue: | 4 |
| ISSN: | 0196-8092 |
| Publisher: | John Wiley & Sons |
| Date Published: | 2018-04-01 |
| Start Page: | 284 |
| End Page: | 290 |
| Language: | English |
| DOI: | 10.1002/lsm.22780 |
| PROVIDER: | scopus |
| PUBMED: | 29266570 |
| PMCID: | PMC7588258 |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | Article -- Export Date: 1 May 2018 -- Source: Scopus |
Altmetric
Citation Impact
BMJ Impact Analytics
Related MSK Work