Soft x-ray therapy for cutaneous basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas
| Journal: | Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology |
| Issue and Date: | December 2005 Volume 53 Issue 6 |
| Authors: | Klaus-Werner Schulte, MD, Andrea Lippold, PhD, Christine Auras, MD, Gernot Bramkamp, MD, Claudia Breitkopf. MD, Heinz-Joachim Eismann, MD, Eva Maria Habenicht, MD, Volker Jasnoch, MD, Helga M0ller-Pannes, MD, Rainer Rupprecht |
| Abstract: | Background We have used a schedule for soft x-ray therapy of epithelial malignancies that takes into account the clinically diagnosed tumor involution under treatment. Objective We sought to evaluate the effectiveness of this schedule in terms of cure rate and late ulcerations. Method Patients with 1267 consecutively irradiated (1998 – 1992) basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas were followed up (average 77 months) Results The recurrence rate (5.1%) was relative to tumor size and thickness and to the time-dose-fractionation factor. I he frequency of ulcerations (6.3%) depended on field size, hardness of the x-rays, and in smaller fields (diameter up to 4 cm) on total dose, and time-dose-fractionation factor. Of all ulcerations, 82.5 % could be conservatively cured. Limitations We have no evidence that our radiation schedule is superior to those published by other authors. Conclusion These results verify the usefulness of soft x-ray therapy for cutaneous epithelial malignancies. |