High-dose-rate (HDR) plesiotherapy with custom-made moulds for the treatment of non-melanoma skin cancer.
BACKGROUND
Non-melanoma skin tumours (NMSC) are one of the most frequent types of cancer, accounting for nearly one third of newly diagnosed tumours. NMSC are frequently diagnosed in elderly patients and while mortality rates are low, NMSC can be associated with significant morbidity in terms of cosmetic and functional impairment.


OBJECTIVE
Surgical excision is nowadays considered the standard treatment for NMSC, although this approach might not be suitable for all the patients. Good rates of local control and cosmetic outcome are achieved by using high-dose-rate (HDR) plesiotherapy.


METHODS
Nine consecutive patients with 11 NMSC were treated with custom-made moulds and HDR plesiotherapy reaching a fi nal dose of 44-48 Gy in 11-12 fractions of 4 Gy over 4 weeks.


RESULTS
No local or distant relapses have been observed after a mean follow-up of 15 months (range 4-36 months). Acute toxicity was acceptable and cosmetic result was considered as excellent/good in 7 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
This modality of treatment offers an alternative for those patients not candidates for surgical procedures because of medical contraindications or risk of disfigurement or functional impairment.
Montero
Angel
A
Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain. angel.monteroluis@gmail.com
Hernanz
Raúl
R
Capuz
Ana-Belén
AB
Fernández
Eva
E
Hervás
Asunción
A
Colmenares
Rafael
R
Polo
Alfredo
A
Sancho
Sonsoles
S
Molerón
Rafael
R
Vallejo
Carmen
C
Ramos
Alfredo
A
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000379:methods; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D012306:Risk; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome