title: Clinical experience with a single field rotational total skin electron irradiation technique for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.
abstract: Between October 1981 and December 1989, 44 patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) were treated with a single field rotational total skin electron irradiation (RTSEI) technique developed in the McGill University, Department of Radiation Oncology. Only 11 (25%) of the 44 patients had received no prior treatment. Three-quarters (33/44) had advanced (T3 or T4) disease. Complete responses were seen in 32/44 (73%) of patients (91% T2, 71% T3 and 58% T4), but only 3/11 (27%) of patients with T2 disease and 3/21 (14%) of patients with T3 disease remain in continuous complete remission in the skin, after median intervals of 58 and 35 months, respectively. Median cause-specific survival for the whole group is 43 months and survival at 5 years is 38%. Survival was significantly better for patients with T2 disease than for patients with T3 disease (relative risk 4.3; 95% CI 1.4-13.2) and patients with T4 disease (relative risk 3.1; 95% CI 0.8-12.1). The RTSEI technique used at McGill has depth-dose characteristics and photon contamination similar to other commonly used TSEI techniques. It is relatively simple and provides a homogenous dose distribution over the entire skin surface in a short treatment time. Results of treatment are similar to those obtained with other techniques. For T2 disease, TSEI is an effective treatment modality with a possibility of long-term tumor control. For more advanced disease, more aggressive treatment, which may include TSEI, is necessary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology (Division of Radiation Oncology), McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suissa
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shenouda
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vuong
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Souhami
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pla
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Podgorsak
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pla
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016410:Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012399:Rotation; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D015996:Survival Rate; D014916:Whole-Body Irradiation / Q000379:methods*