Long-term experience with radiotherapy for the treatment of non-melanoma skin cancer

Abstract

Purpose: In the Netherlands, the incidence of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin is increasing dramatically. Radiotherapy is one of the treatment options, especially for the high risk and the irradical excised tumours. Methods: Retrospectively, the treatment outcome of all patients with BCC or SCC treated with radiotherapy in the period 2000–2013, were reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups, i.e. patients primarily treated with radiotherapy (n = 583) and patients with adjuvant radiation after irradical surgical excision (n = 140). Results: With respect to the treatment outcome, after a median follow-up of 3.4 years for the primarily treated BCCs, 6.5% of the tumours recurred (3-year local control rate for stage I: 93.3% and stage II: 94.4%). 12.7% of the primarily treated SCCs recurred after a median follow-up of 2.4 years (3-year local control rate for stage I: 92.0% and stage II: 83.7%). Local recurrence rates for post-operatively irradiated tumours were 3.6% for BCCs and 11.5% for SCCs. Discussion: The yearly number of patients with BCC or SCC treated with radiotherapy does not reflect the increasing incidence of these tumours. Radiotherapy has potential good treatment outcome in terms of local control and toxicity and seem to be predominantly chosen for tumours located in the head-and-neck area.

Keywords

• radiotherapy
• basal cell carcinoma
• squamous cell carcinoma