Prevention and Management of Acute Radiation Dermatitis

Document Overview

Document Title

Prevention and Management of Acute Radiation Dermatitis

Authoring Society

Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer

Document Publication Date

Mar 27, 2023

Page Last Reviewed/Updated

May 5, 2026

Document Type

Guideline

Country of Publication

Global

Full Text Freely Available

Yes

Full Text Guideline

mascc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Guideline_ARD_part_2_2023-03-27.pdf

Supplemental Implementation Resources

• Slide Set

Document Scope, Criteria, and Use Cases

Document Objectives

Acute radiation dermatitis is a frequent adverse effect of radiotherapy, but standardisation of care for acute radiation dermatitis is lacking. Due to the conflicting evidence and variability in current guidelines, a four-round Delphi consensus process was used to compile opinions of 42 international experts on care for people with acute radiation dermatitis on the basis of the evidence in existing medical literature. Interventions for acute radiation dermatitis prevention or management that reached at least 75% consensus were recommended for clinical use. Six interventions could be recommended for the prevention of acute radiation dermatitis: photobiomodulation therapy and Mepitel film in people with breast cancer, Hydrofilm, mometasone, betamethasone, and olive oil. Mepilex Lite dressings were recommended for the management of acute radiation dermatitis. Most interventions were not recommended due to insufficient evidence, conflicting evidence, or lack of consensus to support use, suggesting a need for further research. Clinicians can consider implementing recommended interventions in their practice to prevent and manage acute radiation dermatitis until additional evidence becomes available.

Scope

Management, Prevention

Diseases/Conditions (MeSH)

D003872 - Dermatitis

D011827 - Radiation

D017453 - Dermatitis, Irritant

D017484 - Dermatitis, Phototoxic

D011830 - Radiation Effects

D003872 - Dermatitis

D011827 - Radiation

D017453 - Dermatitis, Irritant

D017484 - Dermatitis, Phototoxic

D011830 - Radiation Effects

Keywords

Fractionated radiotherapy, Radiation Dermatitis, cancer, dermatitis, radiotherapy

Inclusion Criteria

Male, Female, Adult, Older Adult

Health Care Settings

Ambulatory, Outpatient, Radiology Services

Intended Users

Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Physician, Physician Assistant

Recommendation Development Processes & Methodology

Supplemental Methodology Resource

Systematic Review Document

Number of Source Documents

32

Includes peer/external review process?

Yes

Includes public comment process?

No

Methodologist involvement?

Yes

Patient involvement?

No

Includes multi-disciplinary group?

Yes

Includes systematic review?

Yes

Grades quality of strength of evidence?

No

Grades quality of strength of recommendation?

No

Discloses funding source?

Yes

Discloses conflicts of interest?

Yes

Includes benefits/harms analysis with recommendations?

No