Wound healing after radiation therapy: review of the literature

• Published in: Radiation oncology (London, England) Vol. 7; no. 1; p. 162
• Main Authors: Haubner, Frank, Ohmann, Elisabeth, Pohl, Fabian, Strutz, Jürgen, Gassner, Holger G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 24-09-2012; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Adjuvant treatment; Algorithms; Cancer; Care and treatment; Cell Transplantation - methods; Complications and side effects; Cytokines; Head and neck cancer; Health aspects; Homeopathy; Humans; Injuries; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - therapeutic use; Materia medica and therapeutics; Neoplasms - complications; Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Organ Sparing Treatments - methods; Organ Sparing Treatments - trends; Radiation; Radiation therapy; Radiodermatitis - drug therapy; Radiodermatitis - prevention & control; Radiodermatitis - therapy; Radiotherapy - adverse effects; Radiotherapy - methods; Review; Rodents; Skin; Skin Transplantation - utilization; Therapeutics; Therapy; Vascular endothelial growth factor; Wound healing; Wound Healing - physiology; Wound Healing - radiation effects; Germany
• ISSN: 1748-717X; 1748-717X
• DOI: 10.1186/1748-717x-7-162

Radiation therapy is an established modality in the treatment of head and neck cancer patients. Compromised wound healing in irradiated tissues is a common and challenging clinical problem. The pathophysiology and underlying cellular mechanisms including the complex interaction of cytokines and growth factors are still not understood completely. In this review, the current state of research regarding the pathomechanisms of compromised wound healing in irradiated tissues is presented. Current and possible future treatment strategies are critically reviewed.