title: High-dose-rate (HDR) plesiotherapy with custom-made moulds for the treatment of non-melanoma skin cancer.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain. angel.monteroluis@gmail.com
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Montero
authors.forename: Raúl
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hernanz
authors.forename: Ana-Belén
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Capuz
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: Asunción
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hervás
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Colmenares
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polo
authors.forename: Sonsoles
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sancho
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Molerón
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vallejo
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramos
mesh_terms: 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