Crux medicorum ulcerated radiation-induced fibrosis successful therapy with pentoxifylline and vitamin E

Case report of a 60 year-old patient with an ulcerated radiation-induced fi brosis after therapy for breast cancer. Treatment with oral administration of pentoxifylline 3 x 400 mg/day and vitamin E 2 x 200 mg/day was started. The ulcers were almost completely healed after 18 months. Sonographic exami nation showed a reduction in dermal thickness and in the laser Doppler flux metry, a regulation in the amplitude and increase in flux was found compare d to the measurements made before the start of treatment. The therapy was v ery well tolerated without any side effects. The treatment of radiation-ind uced fibrosis with PTX and vitamin E is a practicable and cost-effective re gimen, especially for inoperable patients. The efficacy of this treatment i s probably due to a combination of blood flow stimulation and immune modula tion which lead to a reduction in the fibrosis.