Selenium in the treatment of radiation-associated secondary lymphedema.

• Abstract: PURPOSE: The aim of this explorative study was to evaluate the impact of selenium in the treatment of lymphedema after radiotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between June 1996 and June 2001, 12 patients with edema of the arm and 36 patients with edema of the head-and-neck region were treated with selenium for therapy-related lymphedema. Of these 36 patients, 20 had interstitial endolaryngeal edema associated with stridor and dyspnea. All patients received sodium selenite over 4 to 6 weeks. RESULTS: Self-assessment using a visual analog scale (n = 48) showed a reduction of 4.3 points when comparing pre- and posttreatment values (p < 0.05). Of 20 patients with endolaryngeal edema, 13 underwent no tracheostomy, 5 underwent a temporary tracheostomy, and only 2 underwent a permanent tracheostomy. Ten of 12 patients with arm edema showed a circumference reduction of the edematous limb and improvement in the Skin-Fold Index by 23.3 points. An improvement of one stage or more was shown by the Földi or the Miller score (n = 28) in 22 (Földi score) and in 24 (Miller score) patients. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with sodium selenite is well tolerated and easy to deliver. Additionally, our results suggest that sodium selenite has a positive effect on secondary-developing lymphedema caused by radiation therapy alone or by irradiation after surgery.
• Authors: Oliver Micke, Frank Bruns, Ralph Mücke, Ulrich Schäfer, Michael Glatzel, Alexander F DeVries, Klaus Schönekaes, Klaus Kisters, Jens Büntzel (Affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, Münster University Hospital, Münster, Germany. omicke at trace-elements.de)
• Journal: International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics (Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys) Vol. 56 Issue 1 Pg. 40-9 (May 1 2003) ISSN: 0360-3016 [Print] United States
• PMID: 12694822 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Cobalt Radioisotopes
• Sodium Selenite
• Cisplatin
• Fluorouracil

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols (therapeutic use)
• Breast Neoplasms (radiotherapy, surgery)
• Cisplatin (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Cobalt Radioisotopes (therapeutic use)
• Combined Modality Therapy
• Female
• Fluorouracil (administration & dosage)
• Humans
• Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms (complications, drug therapy, radiotherapy, surgery)
• Laryngeal Edema (drug therapy, etiology, surgery)
• Lymph Node Excision (adverse effects)
• Lymphedema (drug therapy, etiology)
• Mastectomy
• Mastectomy, Segmental
• Middle Aged
• Neck Dissection
• Pain Measurement
• Radiation Injuries (drug therapy, etiology)
• Radiotherapy (adverse effects)
• Radiotherapy, Adjuvant (adverse effects)
• Radiotherapy, High-Energy (adverse effects)
• Sodium Selenite (therapeutic use)
• Tracheostomy
• Treatment Outcome