Low intensity laser irradiation in the treatment of recalcitrant radiationulcers in patients with breast cancer - long-term results of 3 cases

Radiotherapy can be followed by recalcitrant skin ulcers, As low intensity laser irradiation has been demonstrated to have a beneficial effect on impa ired wound healing, we investigated its efficacy and safety in three patien ts with chronic radiation ulcers. The three patients, previously mastectomi zed due to breast cancer, with recalcitrant radiation ulcers of the skin we re treated with a 30 mW helium-neon laser (wavelength: 632.8 nm, intensity: 3 mW/cm(2), dose: 30 J/cm(2)) three times weekly In all patients, complete mound closure was achieved within a period of 7, 5, and 8 weeks. One patie nt died 6 weeks after laser treatment due to tumor cachexia. Neither of the other patients showed recurrence of radiation ulcers or neoplasm during a follow-up of 36 months. Low intensity helium-neon laser irradiation has bee n shown to be effective in the induction of wound healing in radiotherapy-i nduced ulcers in three patients with breast cancer.