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Radiation-induced damage to skin and soft tissue continues to be a persistent problem despite advances in physics (conformal treatment and intensity modulation). The consequence of radiation-induced damage is that the individual suffers varying degrees of discomfort and dysfunction as a function of where there is damage and the degree of damage.
At this time there still is no established means of assessing the degree of radiation-induced fibrosis. Range of motion studies, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging all contribute to assessment, but neither any individual diagnostic modality nor the combination of modalities provides insight that would permit scientific evaluation of the degree of radiation or impact on treatment. In addition, because irradiated skin and soft tissues are prone to repair poorly if injured, biopsies for evaluation are contraindicated. Hence, there is a definite need to develop non-invasive modalities to pursue diagnostic and treatment assessment. In this protocol non-invasive optical imaging will be tested as a means of providing a scientifically reproducible means of assessing radiation-induced fibrosis.
Thermal imaging, laser Doppler imaging and near-infrared multi-spectral imaging are used in this study. It is the explicit intent of this work to be translated to use in human being so that an individual can be diagnosed and treatment intervention can be assessed.
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