Effectiveness of hyaluronic acid gel (Jalosome soothing gel) for the treatment of radiodermatitis in a patient receiving head and neck radiotherapy associated with cetuximab: A case report and review


Abstract

One of the principal side effects in patients that receive radiotherapy is radiodermatitis. Radiodermatitis can be highly invalidating for patients, causing pain, ulceration, swelling, and increased infection risk, with a negative effect on the quality of life, requiring dressings and medications. Therapeutic approaches reported so far in the literature have not proved to be effective in treating radiodermatitis. Therefore, new approaches are needed to deal with these side effects more effectively. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of hyaluronic acid gel (HAG) (Jalosome soothing gel) for the treatment of a case of radiodermatitis. This is a case study of a patient affected by squamous cell carcinoma at the tongue base, who was treated with head and neck radiotherapy associated with the administration of cetuximab. About 1 month after this therapy was started the patient developed radiodermatitis, which did not regress with standard treatment. Therefore, HAG was applied once a day for about 20 days. The regression of radiodermatitis was measured using the Radiation Toxicity/Oncology Grading scale, pain relief was measured with a numerical scale, and patient satisfaction was done through a semi-structured interview. The patient presented a dramatic reduction of skin toxicity, which had been resistant to all previous therapeutic approaches. Pain, which was severe at the beginning, gradually disappeared. The patient showed great satisfaction for the reduction of pain and the regression of the radiodermatitis. The effectiveness of HAG appears to be promising for the treatment of radiodermatitis.

Keywords: cetuximab; head and neck cancer; hyaluronic acid gel; radiodermatitis; radiotherapy.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest and no relationship whatsoever with the company that produces Jalosome soothing gel.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Condition of the skin on second week of February before the application of HAG (with standard medication). HAG, hyaluronic acid gel
Figure 2
Figure 2
Condition of the skin on third week of February before application of HAG (with standard medication). HAG, hyaluronic acid gel
Figure 3
Figure 3
Condition of the skin on sixth week of February after 3?days application of HAG. HAG, hyaluronic acid gel
Figure 4
Figure 4
Condition of the skin at the end of treatment with HAG. HAG, hyaluronic acid gel
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