[Total skin electron beam therapy for early-stage mycosis fungoides: immediate results and long-term follow-up in 68 patients].
BACKGROUND
Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy of total skin electron beam therapy (TSEB) in the management of early-stage mycosis fungoides in order to assess its position in relation to other skin-directed therapies.


METHODS
A retrospective study of 68 patients (30 in stage T1 and 38 in stage T2).


RESULTS
The median treatment duration was 6 weeks. Three months after the end of TSEB, a complete clinical response occurred in 66 patients (97%). The most marked effects of acute toxicity included localized ulcerations in 13 patients (13.2%) not requiring hospitalization. Mean follow-up was 6.5 years (1.6 to 28.7). The overall survival rates at 5 and 10 years were 86% and 71%, respectively. Thirty-nine patients (57.4%) experienced relapse with a mean disease-free interval of 1.8 years. The disease-free survival rates at 5 and 10 years were 41% and 31%, respectively. This rate was higher when TSEB was performed early (p=0.031). Twenty-one years after TSEB, only one case of cutaneous malignancy (basal cell carcinoma) was noted.


CONCLUSIONS
Because of its high response rates and rapidity of action, TSEB should be considered as first-line therapy in the management of early-stage mycosis fungoides.
Goujon
E
E
Service de dermatologie, centre hospitalier William-Morey, 7, quai de l'Hôpital, 71100 Chalon-sur-Saône, France. elisa.goujon@ch-chalon71.fr
Truc
G
G
Pétrella
T
T
Maingon
P
P
Jeudy
G
G
Collet
E
E
Galliot
C
C
Dalac-Rat
S
S