The Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) and the European Organization for Research on the Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) provide criteria for assessing the complications of radiation therapy affecting the subcutaneous tissues.
Guidelines:
(1) Change in affected parameter is ascribed to radiation therapy and not underlying or concurrent disease.
(2) Considered acute if occurs from day 1 to 90; after day 90 considered late complication.
No acute morbidity is listed for subcutaneous tissue (see skin, above).
Grade 0: no change
Injury
Grade 1
Grade 2
Grade 3
Grade 4
fibrosis and induration
slight
moderate
severe
NA
loss
slight
moderate
severe
NA
field contracture (linear reduction)
none
slight
(<= 10%)
> 10%
NA
necrosis
NA
NA
NA
present
Grade 5 (death directly due to radiation late effect) would be unlikely with subcutaneous injury.
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