Ferreira, E.B., Vasques, C.I., Gadia, R., Chan, R.J., Guerra, E.N., Mezzomo, L.A., . . . Dos Reis, P.E. (2017). Topical interventions to prevent acute radiation dermatitis in head and neck cancer patients: A systematic review. Supportive Care in Cancer, 25, 1001–1011. 

DOI Link

Purpose

STUDY PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of topical agents in the prevention of radiodermatitis

TYPE OF STUDY: Systematic review

Search Strategy

DATABASES USED: CINAHL, CENTRAL LILACS, SCOPUS, PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, ProQuest
 
YEARS INCLUDED: 1980–2015
 
INCLUSION CRITERIA: Prospective studies investigating the effects of topical interventions in the prevention of radiodermatitis in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing external beam radiation
 
EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Cobalt therapy, nontopical interventions, treatment rather than prevention, studies comparing two or more active ingredients, insufficient data on the effects of the intervention, books

Literature Evaluated

TOTAL REFERENCES RETRIEVED: 1,257
 
EVALUATION METHOD AND COMMENTS ON LITERATURE USED: Five studies were deemed high risk of bias. Only one study was low risk of bias. Cochrane risk of bias tool and GRADES categorization were used. The GRADE classification was moderate.

Sample Characteristics

  • FINAL NUMBER STUDIES INCLUDED = 13 
  • TOTAL PATIENTS INCLUDED IN REVIEW = 938
  • SAMPLE RANGE ACROSS STUDIES: 13–331
  • KEY SAMPLE CHARACTERISTICS: Radiotherapy doses ranged from 10–80 Gy or greater. All had head and neck cancer, and eight studies included patients with other types of cancer. Seven studies included patients who had combination radiation and chemotherapy.

Phase of Care and Clinical Applications

PHASE OF CARE: Active antitumor treatment

Results

Four studies evaluated trolamine. Other interventions were aloe vera, olive oil, Lianbai liquid, sucralfate, Na-SOS, hyaluronic acid, and dexpanthenol. No strong evidence showed differences between topical treatments and control interventions.

Conclusions

The evidence was insufficient to support the use of any of the topical interventions examined.

Limitations

  • Limited number of studies included
  • Unclear if the topical use of steroids was excluded

Nursing Implications

Insufficient evidence shows the effectiveness of topical agents for the prevention of radiodermatitis.

Legacy ID

6520