Background: We investigated whether the pattern of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) dose distribution to the skin can be correlated with the development of G3/G4 radiation dermatitis (RD).
Methods: A frequency-matched cohort analysis was perfomed on patients treated with IMRT and concurrent cisplatin or cetuximab. Risk ratios were obtained by fitting Poisson regression models.
Results: The incidence of G3/G4 RD was 41.1% in 90 patients included (50% vs 36.6% in the cetuximab and cisplatin cohorts, respectively). In multivariate analysis, PS ≥ 1 and weight loss at RT completion >10 kg were the only factors that retained significance. The best dosimetric predictive accuracy was provided by 19.9 cc and 5.8 cc of skin ring 2 mm V50 and V60, respectively (AUC: 0.61 for both).
Conclusion: Along with clinical factors, the pattern of dose distribution to a ring structure localized 2 mm below the patient's surface may help predict the development of severe RD.
Keywords: head and neck cancer; intensity-modulated radiotherapy; predictive factors; radiation dermatitis; squamous cell carcinoma.
© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.