Radiat Oncol J.  2019 Dec;37(4):293-301. 10.3857/roj.2019.00381.

Effectiveness of radiotherapy for head and neck skin cancers: a single-institution study

• Kim JW
• Yun BM
• Shin MS
• Kang JK
• Kim J
• Kim YS

• KMID: 2468739
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3857/roj.2019.00381

Abstract

PURPOSE
External beam radiotherapy (EBRT) is a useful option to treat head and neck skin cancer patients who are not indicated for surgery. In this study, we evaluated the treatment outcomes of EBRT in an Asian population.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The records from 19 head and neck skin cancer patients (10 with squamous cell carcinoma and 9 with basal cell carcinoma) who were treated with definitive or adjuvant EBRT from 2009 to 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. The radiotherapy doses administered ranged from 50 to 66 Gy (median, 55 Gy) with 2.0-2.75 Gy per daily fraction (median, 2.5 Gy). The T stage at presentation was as follows: Tis (1 patient), T1 (11 patients), T2 (6 patients), and T3 (1 patient). None had regional lymph node disease or distant metastasis at presentation. The local failure-free survival (LFFS) rates, toxicity, and cosmetic results were analyzed.
RESULTS
The median age was 75.5 years (range, 52.6 to 92.5 years). The median follow-up duration from the completion of radiotherapy was 44.9 months (range, 5.8 to 82.6 months). One local failure occurred in a patient with a 2.1-cm posterior neck squamous cell carcinoma at 32.5 months after radiotherapy (1/19, 5.3%). The 3-year LFFS rate was 91.7%. No patients died from skin cancer during follow-up, and no grade 3 complications occurred. The cosmetic outcomes were excellent for 16 (84.2%) and good for 3 (15.8%) of the 19 patients.
CONCLUSION
EBRT offers good local control and cosmetic outcomes in patients with head and neck skin cancer, with no grade 3 complications.

Keyword

Skin cancer; Radiotherapy; Treatment outcome; Toxicity

MeSH Terms

Asian Continental Ancestry Group
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell
Follow-Up Studies
Head*
Humans
Lymph Nodes
Neck*
Neoplasm Metastasis
Radiotherapy*
Retrospective Studies
Skin Neoplasms*
Skin*
Treatment Outcome