Purpose: To evaluate long-term skin reactions following breast-conserving therapy by using the melanin-erythema index meter. Patients and Methods: 164 patients were followed for at least three years after breast-conserving therapy. For both the erythema and the melanin indices, the ratio of the irradiated-side index to the non-irradiated-side index was calculated. The time course of index ratios alternation was examined. Influences from additional therapies and patients’ age were also evaluated. Result: Both erythema and melanin index ratios of the breast skin were recovered to pre-radiation level three years after radiotherapy. However, both index ratios of the area administrated with 10-Gy boost irradiation were still high even after five years after radiotherapy. Endocrine therapy, chemotherapy and age had no significant influence on skin color reactions three years after radiotherapy. Conclusion: Quantitative assessment using the melanin-erythema index meter demonstrated that chronic skin reactions following breast conserving therapy had recovered to pre-radiation level for three years after irradiation except for the 10-Gy boost irradiated area.
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