Total skin electron beam therapy in mycosis fungoides

Thirty-nine patients with mycosis fungoides were treated with total skin electron beam irradiation from 1971 to 1976, and all received minimum follow-up of 12 months. Details of treatment technique and dosimetry are given. Sixteen patients cleared completely. Seven patients are in long-term remission (1 1/2 to 4 1/2 years). Eleven patients died. Those who failed are now being treated with topical therapy with varying degrees of control. Some have been retreated with local irradiation. Most of the patients had extensive disease; for this group, total skin electron beam therapy was especially useful, as many of those who failed developed only minimal disease that was well controlled by topical measures.