Basal cell carcinoma treated with radiation therapy.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Dermatology
• Radiation Oncology

Background:

• Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of skin cancer.
• Treatment options for BCC include surgery, radiation therapy, and topical agents.
• Assessing the long-term efficacy of radiation therapy for BCC is crucial for treatment planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the local control rates of radiation therapy for biopsy-proven basal cell carcinomas.
• To compare the efficacy of radiation therapy based on American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging.
• To assess the effectiveness of radiation therapy for recurrent basal cell carcinomas.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 85 patients with 115 BCCs treated with radiation therapy between 1974 and 1989.
• Use of orthovoltage or megavoltage photons with varying radiation doses and fractionation schedules.
• Kaplan-Meier analysis to estimate 5-year local control rates, stratified by AJCC stage and treatment history (previously untreated vs. recurrent).

Main Results:

• The 5-year local control rate for Stage I and II BCCs (previously untreated and recurrent) was 95%.
• The 5-year local control rate for Stage III and IV BCCs was 56%, a statistically significant difference (P = 0.0001).
• Recurrent Stage I and II BCCs treated with radiation therapy achieved a 95% 5-year local control rate.

Conclusions:

• Radiation therapy yields high cure rates for Stage I and II basal cell carcinomas.
• Radiation therapy is an effective treatment for recurrent basal cell carcinomas, with outcomes comparable to other modalities.
• While Mohs micrographic surgery may offer slightly higher cure rates, radiation therapy remains a valuable and effective option for BCC treatment.