Table 2.
Studies using quantitative toxicity assessments
| Study | n | Median follow-up | Radiation schemes | Biophysical parameters | Quantitative techniques | Qualitative assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warszawski et al. [12] | 29 |
n = 18: ≤ 3 months; n = 11: 30 months |
CF: 46–50 Gy/2 Gy | Skin thickness | Ultrasound | RTOG |
| Yoshida et al. [11] | 26 |
n = 8: < 6 months; n = 18: ≥ 6 months |
CF: 50.0–50.4 Gy/1.8–2.0 Gy | Skin thickness; hypodermal surface; glandular tissue | Ultrasound | RTOG |
| Landoni et al. [13] | 89 | 20.5 months | HF: 34 Gy/10 Fx/3.4 Gy | Skin thickness | Ultrasound | CTCAE |
| Wengstrom et al. [16] | 53 |
Acute toxicity (follow-up: N/R) |
CF: 50 Gy/2 Gy | Erythema; pigmentation |
Spectrophotometer; Measure digital images (Camera) |
RTOG |
| Schmeel et al. [14] |
70 in CF; 70 in HF |
6 weeks |
CF: 50 Gy/25 Fx; HF: 40.05 Gy/15 Fx |
Erythema; pigmentation | Spectrophotometer | CTCAE |
| Yamazaki et al. [15] |
46 in CF; 26 in HF |
12 months |
CF: 50 Gy/25 Fx; HF: 42.56 Gy/16 Fx |
Color alteration | Spectrophotometer | CTCAE |
| Yoshida et al. [20] | 118 |
12 months; subgroup (n = 28): 5 years |
CF: 48.4–50 Gy/22–25 Fx | Color alteration; skin moisture | Spectrophotometer; Corneometer | CTCAE |
| Saednia et al. [17] | 90 | During RT | HF: 42.50 Gy/16 fx | Skin temperature (Dermatitis) | Thermal imaging device | CTCAE |
| Sanchis et al. [18] | 63 | 3 months | HF: 40 Gy/15 Fx/2.67 Gy | Blood flow (Dermatitis) | LDF | CTCAE |
| Huang et al. [19] | 101 | Last day of RT | CF: 50.0–50.4 Gy/1.8–2.0 Gy | Blood flow; pigmentation; hydration; skin pH | LDF; Multi Skin Test Center MC900; Corneometer; Skin pH meter | RTOG; CTCAE; WHO |
| Sekine et al. [21] | 43 | 1 year | CF: 50 Gy/25 Fx; | Erythema, pigmentation; hydration; skin temperature | Multi-Display Device MDD4; (Corneometer; Tewameter; Mexameter); thermometer | CTCAE |
| Nuutinen et al. [24] | 21 |
5 weeks; subgroup (n = 14): 2 years |
CF: 50 Gy/25 Fx; | Dielectric constant (Erythema; fibrosis) | Dielectric constant | |
| Shumway et al. [25] | 80 | 10 weeks | Total radiation dose: < 40 Gy-66 Gy | Erythema; pigmentation; desquamation | Photographs | Photonumeric scale; CTCAE |
CF conventional fractionation, HF hypofractionation, RTOG Radiation Therapy Oncology Group, CTCAE common terminology criteria for adverse events, RT radiotherapy, LDF laser Doppler flowmetry