Wound complications of adjuvant radiation therapy in patients with soft-tissue sarcomas Journal Article


Authors: Ormsby, M. V.; Hilaris, B. S.; Nori, D.; Brennan, M. F.
Article Title: Wound complications of adjuvant radiation therapy in patients with soft-tissue sarcomas
Abstract: Adjuvant radiation therapy by the brachytherapy technique has been suggested by us to diminish local recurrence following resection of extremity and superficial truncal soft-tissue sarcoma. However, loading of the catheters with radioactive sources on the first through the fifth postoperative days results in a 48% significant wound-complication rate. Our previous animal experiments would suggest that delay of application of radiation to one week after wounding is accompanied by significant improvement in wound-breaking strength, new H3 hydroxyproline accumulation, and improved force-tension curves. As part of our ongoing prospective randomized trial of the effects of brachytherapy on local control, one change was made: the catheters were loaded five or more days after operation. Wound complications were then reviewed in 50 patients following this single change in brachytherapy delivery. Of the 21 patients receiving brachytherapy, 14% had significant wound complications; 10% of the 29 patients who did not received radiation had wound complications of similar severity. This decrease in wound complications of similar severity. This decrease in wound complications represents a major improvement over our prior experience and suggests that the timing of radioactive source loading in the postoperative period is a major factor in radiation-induced wound-healing delay.
Keywords: adult; major clinical study; wound healing; soft tissue sarcoma; brachytherapy; wound dehiscence; human; priority journal
Journal Title: Annals of Surgery
Volume: 210
Issue: 1
ISSN: 0003-4932
Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins  
Date Published: 1989-07-01
Start Page: 93
End Page: 99
Language: English
DOI: 10.1097/00000658-198907000-00014
PUBMED: 2742416
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC1357771
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 14 April 2020 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Murray F Brennan
    1059 Brennan
  2. Basil B Hilaris
    43 Hilaris
  3. Dattatreyudu Nori
    38 Nori