Radiation-induced dermatitis: a review of current understanding

Abstract

Background. Prevention and treatment of radiation-induced dermatitis that occurs after radiation therapy (RT) significantly impairs the quality of life of patients, among which the most severe are pain and discomfort caused by radiation dermatitis (RD). Purpose. Assess the condition and modern ideas of the development of technologies of prevention and treatment of radiation-induced dermatitis. Materials and Methods. A literature review based on massive digital publications found in the world resources of Scopus and Web of Science Core Collection for 2019–2023. With restrictions on the filters «Years», «Medicine» and «Articles». Results. Information on the terminology «radiation-induced dermatitis», risk factors for RD, some views on the mechanisms associated with their occurrence, and current ideas about their prevention and treatment were systematized. The leading countries – USA and China, leading scientific institutions –(Institut Curie, France; The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, USA; German Cancer Research Center and Universitätsklinikum Bonn, Germany, and University of Toronto and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center, Canada, and their scientific topics were identified. Conclusion: The bibliometric analysis of current ideas about the prevention and treatment of RD allowed us to assess the current state and contribution of leading countries and scientific organizations to the development of innovative technologies for the prevention and treatment of RID. The most cited publications were identified, which indicates their high importance and the availability of a wide range of modern tools aimed at reducing and alleviating the manifestations of RD. In the future, it is desirable to create high-quality systematic reviews that will substantiate standardized, best practices for the prevention and treatment of RD for clinical use.