Exaggerated radiation-induced fibrosis in patients with systemic sclerosis
J. Varga, U. F. Haustein, R. H. Creech, J. P. Dwyer and S. A. Jimenez
Department of Medicine, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa.
Four patients with stable systemic sclerosis and limited skin involvement
received radiation for the treatment of solid malignant neoplasms.
Following localized irradiation, each patient developed an exaggerated
cutaneous and internal fibrotic reaction in the irradiated areas. The
surface area of fibrosis extended beyond the radiation portals employed,
and the fibrotic process was poorly responsive to antifibrotic therapy.
Three of the patients died of complications caused by fibrous encasement of
internal organs. The extent and severity of postradiation fibrosis in these
patients was distinctly unusual. These observations suggest that patients
with systemic sclerosis are particularly susceptible to developing
excessive radiation-induced fibrosis.
