Results of the Dutch scalp cooling registry in 7424 patients: analysis of determinants for scalp cooling efficacy.

Background: Chemotherapy-induced alopecia is a common consequence of cancer treatment with a high psychological impact on patients and can be prevented by scalp cooling (SC). With this multi-center patient series, we examined the results for multiple currently used chemotherapy regimens to offer an audit into the real-world determinants of SC efficacy.

Materials And Methods: The Dutch Scalp Cooling Registry collected data on 7424 scalp-cooled patients in 68 Dutch hospitals.

Results of 20- versus 45-min post-infusion scalp cooling time in the prevention of docetaxel-induced alopecia.

Purpose: For patients, chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA) is one of the most distressing side effects of treatment. Scalp cooling can prevent or minimise CIA; the results may depend on the duration of cooling. Since a previous study on post-infusion cooling time in patients treated with docetaxel chemotherapy found no difference between 90 and 45 min, we investigated whether hair-preserving results could be maintained with a shorter post-infusion cooling time.

Core temperature affects scalp skin temperature during scalp cooling.

Background: The efficacy of hair loss prevention by scalp cooling to prevent chemotherapy induced hair loss has been shown to be related to scalp skin temperature. Scalp skin temperature, however, is dependent not only on local cooling but also on the thermal status of the body.

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of body temperature on scalp skin temperature.

Hair mass index obtained by cross-section trichometry: an objective and clinically useful parameter to quantify hair in chemotherapy-induced alopecia.

Purpose: In order to evaluate the efficacy of scalp cooling for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA), it is essential to precisely quantify the amount of hair mass that is present. We wanted to determine if the hair mass index (HMI), obtained by cross-section trichometry (CST), was a suitable parameter for hair mass measurement, and whether or not marking the measurement site on the scalp was necessary.

Methods: Ten patients receiving chemotherapy were sequentially measured using CST during their treatment.

Evaluation of Cohen's cross-section trichometer for measuring hair quantity.

Background: Until now, there has been no reliable, simple method available for measuring hair quantity that is suitable in clinical practice. Recently, the cross-section trichometer by Cohen has been introduced. This study was designed to test its clinical utility.

Unfavourable pattern of metastases in M0 breast cancer patients during 1978-2008: a population-based analysis of the Munich Cancer Registry.

Little is known about time trends in metastases in the patients treated in routine health care facilities without metastases at diagnosis (M0) and about survival after these metastases. Data on 33,771 M0 patients with primary breast cancer diagnosed between 1978 and 2003 were obtained from the Munich Cancer Registry. Survival analyses were restricted to the patients with metastases within 5 years of the initial diagnosis.

[Allow scalp cooling during adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer; scalp metastases rarely occur].

Objective: To investigate the incidence of scalp metastases in high-risk breast cancer patients in order to assess whether caution is warranted with scalp cooling during adjuvant therapy.

Design: Observational study.

Methods: The incidence of scalp metastases and the disease course were studied in 885 very well evaluated high-risk breast cancer patients.

Impact of alopecia and scalp cooling on the well-being of breast cancer patients.

Objective: Chemotherapy-induced alopecia, a common and distressing side effect of chemotherapy, may be prevented by scalp cooling, which reduces toxicity of cytostatics in hair root cells. This is the first study designed to assess the effect of scalp cooling on well-being.

Methods: A prospective multi-centre study was performed in 13 hospitals.

Scalp cooling to prevent chemotherapy-induced hair loss: practical and clinical considerations.

Objective: The objective of this prospective multicenter study was to obtain insight into the severity and burden of hair loss among cancer patients treated with chemotherapy. In addition, we described the effectiveness and burden of scalp cooling and the satisfaction with wigs, with hair regrowth, and with body image.

Materials And Methods: Breast cancer patients treated with (n = 98) and without (n = 168) scalp cooling completed questionnaires before chemotherapy and 3 weeks and 6 months after completion of chemotherapy.

What is wrong with the 30-year-old practice of scalp cooling for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced hair loss?

Since about 1970 scalp cooling has been used to prevent chemotherapy-induced hair loss, one of the most common and emotionally distressing side effects of cancer therapy. Generally accepted opinions, uncertainty and controversy, topics to study and recommendations for improving the results of scalp cooling are the subjects of this article which was also presented at the MASCC Symposium, June 2003, Berlin.