Comparison of Pharyngitis and Dermatitis Complications Between Hypofractionated Radiotherapy and Conventional Radiotherapy in Breast Cancer Patients

Abstract

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies in women and is one of the most common causes of cancer death in 40-44 years old women. Considering the applicability of both hypofractionated radiotherapy and conventional radiotherapy in the treatment of this disease, it is important to evaluate the complications of these two methods and to suggest a better and less complicated method. Therefore, the present study compared the complications of laryngitis and skin inflammation between the two sessions of hypofractionated radiotherapy and conventional radiotherapy in the treatment of breast cancer patients. Methods and Materials: This study was a descriptive-comparative study. Patients with breast cancer referred to radiotherapy ward of Imam Reza Hospital in Tabriz were divided into two groups from October 2016 to October 2016. The first group consisted of patients hypofractionated radiotherapy sessions and the second group consisted of patients treated with conventional radiotherapy. According to the adjusted Complications Questionnaire of the two methods of hypofractionated radiotherapy and conventional radiotherapy for acute complications of pharyngitis and skin inflammation after one week after the last treatment session, the two groups were assisted by the Common Toxicity Criteria (CTC) table. Was examined. Results: Forty patients undergoing hypofractionated radiotherapy and 40 patients undergoing conventional radiotherapy were included in the study. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of age distribution (P = 0.220). In both groups, the majority of patients had invasive ductal breast cancer and the two groups did not differ significantly (p = 1,000). Also, there was no significant difference between the two groups in TNM scoring (p = 0.326). 1 (1%) patients in hypofractionated radiotherapy and 3 patients (1%) in the conventional method had pharyngitis which was not statistically significant (p = 0.499). There was a significant difference in the rate of dermatitis between the two groups (p = 0.017). As many as 18 (45%) patients developed dermatitis in the conventional method but only 8 (20%) patients in the hypofractionated radiotherapy group had dermatitis.