Radiation-induced skin cancer and radiodermatitis of the head and neck.
From a cohort of 2400 patients who had been irradiated 19 to 48 years previously for benign diseases in the head and neck region a randomly selected group of 605 patients was selected and traced back. From the 360 patients alive, 257 were examined clinically and 49 were examined by questionnaire for radiation-induced skin tumors and radiodermatitis. In 21 patients, a total of 30 skin tumors were diagnosed. In 8 of 21 patients, 10 skin carcinomas were detected at recall. A dose-effect relationship of 40 carcinomas/10(4) persons/Gy for a median follow-up period of 41 years for the area exposed was calculated. The severity of radiodermatitis is associated with a higher prevalence of skin cancer. The number of radiation-induced skin cancers rises with the post-treatment time. Because of these late radiation effects, radiotherapy of benign skin lesions is contraindicated, especially now that other therapy modalities are available.
D000367:Age Factors; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000209:etiology*; D011855:Radiodermatitis / Q000209:etiology*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D012737:Sex Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*