Randomized, paired comparison of no-sting barrier film versus sorbolene cream (10% glycerine) skin care during postmastectomy irradiation

Purpose: Postmastectomy irradiation provides an excellent model for irradiated skin care practices because of the relatively uniform surface and radiation compared with other situations in which radiation-induced moist desquamation is common. We designed a study to test the effect of prophylactic 3M Cavilon No-Sting Barrier Film (No-Sting) on the rates of moist desquamation compared with sorbolene cream (with 10% glycerin). Methods and Materials: The irradiated chest wall was divided into medial and lateral halves. Sixty-one women were randomized to have No-Sting applied to either the medial or lateral half, with the alternate half treated with sorbolene. Results: For all patients, the skin toxicity, calculated as the area under the curve, mean No-Sting and sorbolene score was 8.1 vs. 9.2, respectively (p = 0.005, Wilcoxon signed rank test). The total number of weeks of moist desquamation for the 61 patients was 40 vs. 45, equating to a mean of 0.65 week vs. 0.74 week per patient in the No-Sting and sorbolene-treated areas, respectively. The rates of moist desquamation were 33% vs. 46% (p = 0.096, McNemar's Exact test). For 58 fully assessable patients (minimum of 7 weekly observations), the area under the curve and rates of moist desquamation were significantly different statistically (p = 0.002 and 0.049, respectively). No statistically significant differences were noted in the pain scores. The pruritus scores were significantly reduced in the No-Sting area (area under the curve, p = 0.011). Conclusion: No-Sting reduces the duration and frequency of radiation-induced moist desquamation. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc.