398 CLINICAL RADIOLOGY

TO BE FILLED IN BY TREATING PHYSICIAN FORM A

TOPICAL CORTICOSTEROID TRIAL

Patient's Name ........................................................................Trial No. .........................................................

Hospital No. ...............................................................................Date starting RT ...........................................

Consultant .................................................................................Set ....................................................................

Week

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Dose of X-ray given

Number of tubes dispensed
Skin reaction (to refer Erythema
to areas of maximum 0
damage) 1
2
3
Dry desqua-
mation
Moist desqua-
mation
Interruptions (if treatment was interrupted
this week put X)
Comments
Area of maximum reaction
c = chest wall
b = breast
s = supraclav
a = axilla
p = parasternum

4. The tubes had been previously used we re the 250 kV machine, caesium-137,
packed in such a way that either clobetasone cobalt-60 and the Van de Graaff 2 MeV generator.
butyrate or hydrocortisone cream was given in
random order, neither the radiotherapist nor
the patient being aware of its nature. A sealed Assessment
code was kept by the Pharmacy Department This was made according to the following criteria:
for use, should it become necessary to know
the nature of any particular treatment. (i) The symptomatic relief of
5. All patients were given a daily dermatitis as experienced and noted down by
record card (Form B) on which they were to the patient (subjective response) (Form B).
record their subjective impression of the (ii) The amount of steroid preparation
skin reaction. These were filled in from the used (number of tubes dispensed).
start of radiation therapy so that the time taken (iii) The clinical response of the
for the onset of dermatitis could be recorded. patients, i.e. nature of skin reaction and
the dosage achieved, as noted by the
radiotherapist (objective response) (Form
Radiotherapy Equipment A).
In patients using the hydrocortisone or clobeta- (iv) The number of length of the 'rest
sone butyrate creams the differing machines were periods' from treatment required by each
used in approximately equal numbers. The machines group.