Botox Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Botox, including details on cosmetic botox, side-effects, alternatives, treatment.

The role of botulinum toxin type A in the radiation fibrosis syndrome: a preliminary report.

Stubblefield MD, Levine A, Custodio CM, Fitzpatrick T

Department of Neurology, Rehabilitation Medicine Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021, USA. stubblem@mskcc.org

OBJECTIVE: To describe the use of botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) in radiation fibrosis syndrome (RFS). DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SETTING: A large tertiary care cancer center. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-three consecutive patients treated for sequelae of RFS with BTX-A. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A description of the components of RFS thought to benefit from BTX-A injections and the patient's self-report of benefit from those injections. RESULTS: The sequelae of RFS for which BTX-A injection was thought to be indicated include radiation-induced cervical dystonia in 18 (78%), trigeminal nerve or cervical plexus neuralgia in 10 (43%), trismus in 7 (30%), migraine in 3 (13%), and thoracic pain in 1 (4%) patient. Most (87%) patients self-reported benefit from the injections. CONCLUSIONS: Initial clinical experience with the use of BTX-A as adjunctive treatment for select neuromuscular and musculoskeletal complications of RFS in a variety of cancer patients has been encouraging. Well-designed prospective studies are needed to clarify the potential beneficial role of BTX-A in specific sequelae of RFS.

Published 25 February 2008 in Arch Phys Med Rehabil, 89(3): 417-21.
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