THE HISTOPATHOLOGICAL CHANGES IN IRRADIATED VS. NONRADIATED TISSUE-EXPANDED SKIN IN THE PORCINE MODEL

This study examined the histological changes following irradiation on nonexpanded and tissue-expanded pigskin. Six Yorkshire pigs received 4 860 cGy radiation to one frank with the opposite side serving as the c ontrol, A histopathological comparison of tissue expansion in irradiat ed tissue to nonradiated tissue showed a reduction in the thickness of the dermal and subcutaneous layers, with less prominent rete ridges a nd a thicker stratum spinosum (p < 0.05). Nonexpanded irradiated tissu e showed a reduction of thickness in the dermis and subcutaneous layer , less prominent rete ridges, and a thicker stratum spinosum layer (p < 0.05) when compared with nonradiated tissue. Tissue-expanded irradia ted tissue showed no significant differences (p > 0.05) in any of thes e parameters when compared with nonexpanded irradiated tissue. This st udy demonstrates that radiation produced a significant change in porci ne skin, but tissue expansion did not further alter the histological c hanges associated with irradiation.