RADIODERMITE INCIDENCE IN A RADIOTHERAPY SERVICE

Introduction: Radiotherapy is a locoregional treatment modality that can be used exclusively or concomitantly with other treatment modalities. Radiotherapy can cause several side effects, one of the most common being radiodermatitis. Radiodermatitis is an acute skin reaction characterized by a set of external and internal lesions caused by exposure to ionizing rays. It can be classified according to the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) in grades: 0, I, II, III and IV. This acute effect directly affects the patients life quality and may impair their segment in treatment, as in some degrees of radiodermites treatment may be interrupted. Goals and Objectives: To identify the incidence of radiodermatitis by degree in patients undergoing radiotherapy treatment at an oncology hospital in southern Brazil from January 2017 to December 2018. Methodology: Retrospective, quantitative and descriptive study conducted in a cancer hospital in the southern region of the country. Data were obtained from the TasyR institution‘s information system and analyzed within Microsoft Office Excel 2010. Results: We identified 1,776 patients who had radiodermatitis during treatment. Regarding the RTOG classification, the patients presented: 907 (50%) grade 0, 671 (38%) grade I, 154 (9%) grade II, 37 (2%) grade III and 7 (1%) grade IV. Conclusion: The grades 0 and I were the ones with the highest incidence. This incidence may be justified by early evaluation, identification and treatment of lesions in consultations with the cancer nurse.