Electron beam therapy is not inferior to superficial x-ray therapy in the treatment of skin carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To compare recurrence rates and cosmetic results after electron beam therapy vs. superficial x-ray therapy for nonmelanoma skin carcinoma.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis was performed on 389 histologically confirmed basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas of the skin, treated with either superficial x-rays or electron beam therapy, with regard to local control rates and cosmetics, as scored with an arbitrary three-point scale.


RESULTS
The overall local recurrence rate was 4.9% (19 out of 389). For small tumors (irradiated surfaces < or = 10 cm2) a local recurrence rate of 2.2% was observed, both after electron beam therapy and after superficial x-ray therapy. Tumor size and previous treatment proved to be important prognostic factors with regard to control rate. The well-fractionated electron beam therapy yielded better cosmetic results than the large fraction superficial x-ray therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Electron beam treatment is not inferior to superficial x-ray treatment and even better for larger tumors. The inferior results of electron beam therapy reported in literature might be due to technical factors, which are discussed.
Griep
C
C
Department of Clinical Oncology, University Hospital, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Davelaar
J
J
Scholten
A N
AN
Chin
A
A
Leer
J W
JW
D000368:Aged; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*