ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Radiation-induced scalp dermatitis is a type of burn caused by radiotherapy for brain tumors, and often impairs patients' quality-of-life (QOL). In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of shiunko for the treatment of radiation-induced scalp dermatitis. Shiunko is an ointment invented by Sheishu Hanaoka in the early 19th century and is known to treat burns more effectively than steroids.METHODS: Twenty-two patients (12 men and 10 women; age range between 51 to 74 years-old, mean 63.1) with malignant brain tumors were involved in this study. The histological diagnoses were malignant glioma (13 cases), malignant lymphoma (6 cases), and metastasis (3 cases). Performed radiotherapies were as follows: whole brain in 9 cases and local in 13 cases. Symptoms were as follows: redness in 18 cases, burning pain in 13 cases, itching in 13 cases, and erosion in 3 cases. Shiunko was applied in the same manner as when treating with standard ointment. Efficacy was evaluated according to symptom improvement rates: excellent (more than 80%), good (more than 50%), fair (less than 50%), and no effect (less than 30%).RESULTS: Favorable therapeutic effects were observed in all patients (16 excellent cases, 6 good cases). The efficacy was confirmed within a few hours in patients who showed quick response to this treatment.CONCLUSION: Shiunko can be expected to be an effective ointment for treating radiation-induced scalp dermatitis.
ABSTRACT
A case of atypical facial pain treated with Toki-shigyaku-ka-goshuyu-shokyo-to was reported. The patient was a 30-year-old female with oversensitivity to cold. She had suffered from intractable atypical facial pain in her left cheek for eight years. Diagnostic images showed no organic lesion and microvascular compression along the left trigeminal nerve. Although conventional medical therapy had not been successful in relieving the pain, Toki-shigyaku-ka-goshuyu-shokyo-to, in combination with several analgetic agents, was therapeutically effective. Later, Toki-shigyaku-ka-goshuyu-shokyo-to alone was effective in relieving painful episode.