Clinical Consideration of Chronic Radiodermatitis Caused by Coronary Intervention

Kim, Joon Young; Yang, Ho Jik

Abstract

PURPOSE
The number of coronary interventions is increasing in Korea. Medical team tend to underestimate the radiation that is used during coronary interventions. For this reason if a person who underwent coronary intervention are less likely to be diagnosed with chronic radiodermatitis.
METHODS
From March 1, 2012 to February 28, 2017, patients who had a history of coronary intervention visited our plastic surgery clinic with chronic ulceration on the back, shoulders, and scapula. Subjects were classified by age, sex, lesion location, size, medication, time of exposure, onset after last exposure, treatment method, complication, and recurrence.
RESULTS
5 cases were reported, two in the left scapula, one in the right scapular, one in the mid back, and one in the below right axilla. Coronary interventions were performed twice in two patients and three times in a patient. The average exposure time was 84 minutes. The average elapsed time after for last exposure was three years and 3 months ago and ranged from 1 year to 10 years. The size of ulcer lesions was 11.1 cm² on average. All patients underwent debridement of the dead tissue and flap surgery.
CONCLUSION
Patients with a history of coronary intervention should be aware of the possibility of chronic radiation dermatitis if they come with chronic scarring or ulcerative chronic wounds with a clear border at the back, shoulders and scapula. So accurate diagnosis based on the patient's medical history is important and awareness of medical team who perform coronary interventions is also necessary.