How do you advise patients on the risk for permanent alopecia following RT to the scalp?

In treating skin cancers of the scalp, are there any specific constraints you give to the skin itself to prevent alopecia? How does changing fractionation impact this?

Answer from: Radiation Oncologist at Academic Institution

If you are treating the skin in a certain area to definitive dose with RT for a skin primary, the patient is almost certain to have a patch of alopecia in the area of treatment. Regarding dose constraints, one older study by Lawenda and colleagues looked at 26 patients treated for CNS primaries and ...

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Radiation Oncologist at Delaware Valley Urology Cancer Treatment Center
For cosmetic purposes, some of my patients who inc...

Answer from: Radiation Oncologist at Academic Institution

It’s usually not an issue because of age, hair loss, etc. Avoiding bone exposure and necrosis overshadows alopecia.

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How do you advise patients on the risk for permanent alopecia following RT to the scalp?

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