w12of pigment in the basal layer and atrephy and benign dyskeratosis were noted
in the malpigian layer of the epidermis.

In the dernis degenerative changes

in the colla en were noted frequently, and capillary dilation persisted.
Some of these features may be seen in Fig. 11, which is a section taken at
two years of a lesion on the back of the neck which showed gross pigment changes.
_.°?

THBRAPY CF BETA LESIONS

The treatment of beta lesions during the acute stage is very similar
to the treatment of thermal burns.

Mild lesions will only require daily

cleansing and application of bland antipruritic lotions and ointments.

mine lotion with 1 per cent phenol is soothing.

Cala-

Analgesic and anesthetic

ointments are helpful in allaying more painful symptoms and in keeping the
skin soft in lesions that are dry and thickened.

Antibiotics applied locally

and/or parenterally should be used in seccndary infection occurs, or prophy-

lactically if the lesicn is associated with severe leukopoenia from whole
body radiation.

The above treatment proved quite adequate with the Marshallese

iesicns.
In severe lesicns with the development of necrotic tissue, surgical
debridement should be carried out.

Use of pressure dressings, splinting and

elevation of affected parts may be necessary.

Early skin grafting should be

considered in cases developing painful or progressive chronic radiation dermatitis (Brown et al.).

Por more detailed therapy of radiation lesions, the

reader is referred to standard textbooks on the subject such ag that cf MacKee,

C4pollaro and Montgomery.

°

Several agents have been reported in reccnt years to be beneficial in
the treatment of radiaticn lesicns of the skin.

Among these are prepara=

ticns of the Aloe Vera plant (Lushbough; MacKee, Cipollaro and Montzomery).
The use of vitamins such as A and D are advocated by some investigators in
the acute stages.

The use of triiodothyronine preparations in such lesions
‘

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