[Radiotherapy of basal cell carcinoma of the face and head: Importance of low dose per fraction on long-term outcome].
BACKGROUND
Radiotherapy plays an important role in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma of the face and head and achieves cure rates of 92-96 %. Different fractionation concepts of radiotherapy have been described. This study investigates the efficacy, as well as acute and chronic toxicity, of a slightly hypo-fractionated radiotherapy schedule.


METHODS
85 patients with 104 tumors underwent radiotherapy for basal cell carcinoma of the face and head. The radiotherapy schedule was 5 x 3 Gray/week up to a total dose of 57 Gray in 95 % of patients. Acute and late radiotherapy toxicity and cosmetic outcome were evaluated in long-term follow-up.


RESULTS
No recurrence was observed. In 87 % of tumors, only low acute toxicity occurred at the end of radiotherapy. Late toxicity, if observed, was low in most patients. "Excellent" or "good" cosmesis was achieved in 94 % of tumors at last follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Our radiotherapy schedule achieves a very high local control rate and very good cosmetic and functional results. This fractionation can be recommended as a standardized radiotherapy treatment for basal cell carcinoma of the face and head.
Olschewski
Thomas
T
Klinik für Radioonkologie und Strahlentherapie, Alfried-Krupp-Krankenhaus, Essen. heinrich.seegenschmiedt@kruppkrankenhaus.de
Bajor
Katharina
K
Lang
Birgit
B
Lang
Eugen
E
Seegenschmiedt
Michael H
MH
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011855:Radiodermatitis / Q000209:etiology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*