Skin complications between totally implantable venous port and peripherally inserted central catheter in patients with head and neck cancer who received cetuximab-based therapy.

Objectives: Cetuximab-based therapy is prone to develop skin complications. Our study aims to identify the impact on the central venous access by cetuximab-based therapy in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Methods: We conducted a single center retrospective study to explore the prevalence and type of skin complications between totally implantable venous port (TIVP) implanted in the subcutaneous tissue of the anterior chest wall and peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) for patients with HNSCC who received cetuximab-based therapy.

Results: In the current study, 34 patients had TIVP and 34 patients had PICC. 32.4% (11/34) patients with TIVP had skin complications, while only 11.8% (4/34) skin complications occurred in patients with PICC. Most patients with skin complications were grade 1. However, two patients with TIVP suffered infection by skin complications and experienced TIVP removal. In the correlation analysis, significant (p < 0.05) risk factors for skin complications were prophylactic use of topical steroid ointment and male sex.

Conclusion: TIVP implanted in the anterior chest wall was potentially related with higher incidence of cutaneous complications in patients with R/M HNSCC who received cetuximab based therapy, that requires cancer nurses deep concern and uses evidence-based preventative and treatment strategies.