A 45-year-old woman has been admitted for surgery to remove a cancerous abdominal tumor.She has been on chemotherapy and recently radiotherapy to shrink the tumor without success.To best facilitate wound healing,when is the best time for her to undergo surgery?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Ideally surgery takes place 4 to 6 weeks after the completion of radiation treatments to avoid wound-healing problems.The patient with cancer may have radiotherapy before surgery to reduce the size of a cancerous tumor to remove it surgically.Radiation causes fibrosis and vascular scarring in the radiated area.This causes tissues to become fragile and poorly oxygenated,increasing the risk for wound infection.

A 45-Year-Old Woman Has Been Admitted for Surgery to Remove