title: Orthovoltage X-rays for Postoperative Treatment of Resected Basal Cell Carcinoma in the Head and Neck Area.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Surgery is the golden standard for treating basal cell carcinomas. In case of positive tumor margins or recurrent disease, postoperative adjuvant or salvaging therapy is suggested to achieve good local control.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To retrospectively report on local control and toxicity of postoperative radiotherapy by means of orthovoltage X-rays for residual or recurrent basal cell carcinoma after surgery in the head and neck area.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-six surgically resected residual or recurrent basal cell carcinomas of the head and neck region were irradiated postoperatively by means of orthovoltage X-rays at the Netherlands Cancer Institute between January 2000 and February 2015.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After a median follow-up duration of 30.5 months, only 5 recurrences were reported. The 5-year local control rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 100%, 87%, and 87%, respectively. The 5-year local control rate was 92% for immediate postoperative radiotherapy of incompletely resected basal cell carcinomas, 90% for recurrences after 1 previously performed excision, and 71% for multiple recurrences, namely, a history of more than 1 excision ( P = .437). Acute toxicity healed spontaneously within 3 months. Late toxicities were mild.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Radiotherapy by means of orthovoltage X-ray is an excellent alternative for re-excision in case of incompletely resected or recurrent basal cell carcinomas that are at risk of serious functional and cosmetic impairments after re-excision, with a 5-year local control rate of 87% and a low toxicity profile.
authors.affiliation: 1 Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni Van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Charlotte W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Duinkerken
authors.affiliation: 1 Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni Van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Peter J F M
authors.initials: PJFM
authors.lastname: Lohuis
authors.affiliation: 1 Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni Van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marianne B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Crijns
authors.affiliation: 1 Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni Van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Arash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Navran
authors.affiliation: 1 Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni Van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Rick L M
authors.initials: RLM
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.affiliation: 1 Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni Van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hamming-Vrieze
authors.affiliation: 1 Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni Van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
authors.forename: W Martin C
authors.initials: WMC
authors.lastname: Klop
authors.affiliation: 1 Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni Van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Michiel W M
authors.initials: MWM
authors.lastname: van den Brekel
authors.affiliation: 1 Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni Van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Abrahim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Mamgani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: BCC; basal cell carcinoma; orthovoltage; radiotherapy