title: Facial Basal Cell Carcinomas in Elderly Frail Patients Treated with Low Total-dose Radiotherapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A retrospective analysis was performed in our two Institutions in order to evaluate the feasibility and reliability of a hypofractionated-radiotherapy regimen in the treatment of frail elderly patients with facial basal cell carcinomas (BCCs).
  
  
  METHODS
  The records of elderly patients (age >75 years) with histologically-confirmed BCC, T1-2, treated to a total radiation dose of 25-30 Gy over 5-6 weeks, were retrospectively analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From February 2007-December 2010, 134 ambulatory patients with 159 BCCs were treated. Their median age was 82.5 years (range=75-103). Grade 1-2 skin acute toxicities were observed in 30.6% of patients (41/134). Complete responses were observed in 157 tumors in 132 patients. At the last follow-up, June 2014, no late toxicities had been noted; three patients had local recurrent disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results seem to demonstrate both the feasibility and efficacy of curative hypofractionated radiation therapy in elderly patients with BCCs unfit for daily irradiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliera Santa Croce e Carle Cuneo, Cuneo, Italy elviorussi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Elvio G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Russi
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliera Santa Croce e Carle Cuneo, Cuneo, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pelissero
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliera Santa Croce e Carle Cuneo, Cuneo, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Melano
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliera Santa Croce e Carle Cuneo, Cuneo, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fillini
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliera Santa Croce e Carle Cuneo, Cuneo, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vigna-Taglianti
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliera Santa Croce e Carle Cuneo, Cuneo, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gianello
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physics, Azienda Ospedaliera Santa Croce e Carle Cuneo, Cuneo, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lucio
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiological Science, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Settineri
authors.affiliation: Operative Unit of Radiotherapy, Azienda Ospedali Riuniti Papardo-Piemonte Messina, Contrada Papardo, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santacaterina
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiotherapy, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pontoriero
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiotherapy, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Iatì
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiotherapy, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pergolizzi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*
keywords: Basal cell carcinoma; frail patients; hypofractionated radiotherapy; skin cancer