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Review
. 2021 Jul-Aug;35(4):2313-2319.
doi: 10.21873/invivo.12505.

Non-melanoma Skin Cancer Treated by Contact High-dose-rate Radiotherapy (Brachytherapy): A Mono-institutional Series and Literature Review

Luca Tagliaferri  1 , Francesco Giuseppe Ciardo  2 , Bruno Fionda  3 , Calogero Casà  1 , Alessandro DI Stefani  4   5 , Valentina Lancellotta  1 , Elisa Placidi  1 , Gabriella Macchia  6 , Nikola Dino Capocchiano  1 , Alessio Giuseppe Morganti  7   8 , György Kovács  9 , Francesco Bussu  10   11 , Ketty Peris  4   5 , Vincenzo Valentini  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Non-melanoma Skin Cancer Treated by Contact High-dose-rate Radiotherapy (Brachytherapy): A Mono-institutional Series and Literature Review

Luca Tagliaferri et al. In Vivo. 2021 Jul-Aug.

Abstract

Background/aim: Non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC) are the most common neoplasms worldwide and their incidence has been proven to increase in recent years and their treatment should aim at cancer cure as well as cosmetic and functional results. The aim of the study was to report the results of our mono-institutional series of high-dose-rate radiotherapy (cHDR-RT) in NMSC, based on a homogenous technique and two different treatment schedules.

Patients and methods: All patients affected by NMSC who were consecutively evaluated and treated at our Interventional Oncology Center from October 2018 to August 2020, were included. Patients underwent cHDR-RT using flap applicators and remotely afterloaded Ir-192 sources.

Results: Overall, 51 patients were treated for a total of 67 lesions. Local control (LC) and disease-specific survival (DSS) were 94.0% and 100%, respectively. Grade 1, grade 2, grade 3 and grade 4 acute toxicity rates were 24.6%, 3.5%, 3.5%, and 0.0%, respectively. The cosmetic results were graded as excellent/good, fair, and poor in 73.7%, 19.3%, and 7.0%.

Conclusion: cHDR-RT of NMSC is an effective alternative to surgery due to excellent outcomes both in terms of local control and aesthetic results especially in the face.

Keywords: Non-melanoma skin cancer; brachytherapy; radiation therapy.; radiotherapy.

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Conflict of interest statement

The Authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Kaplan-Meier curves. A. Actuarial local control. B. Actuarial overall survival and disease-specific survival.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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