Enfriamiento del cuero cabelludo para la prevención de la alopecia inducida por quimioterapia

Background. Chemotherapy produces the side effect most feared by patients with cancer, this is alopecia. Scalp cooling could be prevent this effect. Objective. To evaluate cryotherapy of the scalp as a preventive method for chemotherapy-induced alopecia. Methods. A narra-tive bibliographic review was performed with 22 articles that were selected introducing search equations in several databases. Results. Its efficacy is difficult to determine and the effectiveness is very variable, but it is approved in patients with solid tumors. There are some side effects and nursing care is necessary, regardless of the cooling technique used. Conclusions. Studies have shown that the use of this method is efficacious and effective. They demonstrate that the use of this method does not increase the risk of metastasis to the scalp. It is contraindicated in patients with hematological tumors.