[Prevention of chemotherapy-induced alopecia in cancer patients by scalp hypothermia (author's transl)]

Nouv Presse Med. 1982 Mar 13;11(12):929-31.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Chemotherapy-induced alopecia observed in cancer patients can now be prevented by a simple, effective, inexpensive and well tolerated procedure: scalp hypothermia. Refrigeration is obtained by placing on the scalp two bags filled with crushed ice 15 minutes before, and removing them 15 minutes after intravenous injection of antineoplastic drugs. Only patients treated with drug combinations that are rapidly administered (into the giving-set tube or by i.v. infusion lasting less than 60 minutes) seem to benefit from scalp hypothermia. The fact that good results were obtained with those drugs (adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, 5-fluorouracil, methotrexate, vincristine) and modes of administration that are most commonly used in women with breast cancer or ovarian cancer makes this procedure extremely interesting.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Alopecia / chemically induced
  • Alopecia / prevention & control*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypothermia, Induced / methods*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Scalp* / drug effects

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents