title: [Electron beam irradiation is effective in the treatment of skin carcinomas; a comparison with superficial roentgen therapy].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare recurrence rates and cosmetic results after electron beam therapy versus superficial X-ray therapy for basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas of the skin.
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of Radiotherapy, University Hospital Leiden, the Netherlands.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis was performed of 389 histologically confirmed basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas of the skin (1980-1990), treated with either superficial X-rays or electron beam therapy, with regard to local recurrence rates and cosmetics scored with an arbitrary three point scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 389 patients 19 developed a local recurrence (4.9%). For small tumours (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. Large tumours (irradiated surface > 50 cm2, treated with electron beam) had a higher recurrence rate (13.8%) as had tumours which had been treated before. The cosmetic results with electron beam treatment were better, because smaller fractions were used compared with superficial X-ray treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our hands electron beam treatment was not inferior to superficial X-ray treatment, cosmetically even better and also applicable in case of larger tumours. The inferior results of electron beam therapy reported in literature may be due to technical factors.
authors.affiliation: Academisch Ziekenhuis, afd. Klinische Oncologie, Leiden.
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Scholten
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Griep
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Davelaar
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chin
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Leer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D004583:Electrons / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000532:radiotherapy; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*
vernacular_title: Elektronenbestraling effectief bij de behandeling van huidcarcinomen; een vergelijking met röntgencontacttherapie.