title: Effectiveness of radiotherapy for elderly patients with non-melanoma skin cancer of the head.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effectiveness of conventionally fractionated radiotherapy for local control and cosmesis in elderly patients (age 70 years or older) with non-melanoma skin cancer of the head.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of 15 patients undergoing definitive radiation (11 patients) or postoperative radiation (4 patients) for squamous cell carcinoma (9 patients) and basal cell carcinoma (6 patients) of the head was undertaken. At each follow-up visit, a radiation oncology resident and/or medical student was requested to examine the patient's head and neck, and determine the initial location of the cancer without reviewing their medical record.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No patient developed a loco-regional recurrence. The residents and medical students were unable to determine the initial location of the cancer because of the skin normalcy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Conventionally fractionated radiotherapy is effective for local control and provides excellent cosmesis for elderly patients with skin cancer of the head.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Howard University Hospital, Washington, Washington DC, USA.
authors.forename: Nam P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Tiffany
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ries
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vock
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vos
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vinh-Hung
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Anand
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Desai
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sroka
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Vo
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gelumbauskas
authors.forename: Russell
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Karlsson
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mignault
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: cosmesis; elderly patients; local control; radiotherapy; skin cancer of the head