Radiotherapy of residual (incompletely excised) basal and squamous-cell carcinomas of the skin. Experience in 87 cases with no evidence of clinical disease

Background. Incompletely excised basal and squamous cell carcinomas of the skin (with histopathological ascertainment) with no evidence of clinical disease represent a yet unsolved therapeutic problem. Aim of this study was to evaluate whether radiotherapy was or not a safe and effective treatment in destroying the residual neoplastic cells and to prevent and/or reduce the onset of clinically evident relapses. Methods. Therefore, a retrospective study was performed on 87 patients (77 with basal cell carcinoma and 10 with squamous cell carcinoma), that underwent orthovoltage radiotherapy in the period 1982-1999. The total doses administered ranged from 50 to 60 Gy. The mean follow-up was 46.37 months, planned according to a schedule of a first control 1 month after the end of radiotherapy, then a control every sixth month for 5 years, and a control once in a year. The cure-rate was evaluated according to the life-table method. Results. The five-year cure-rate (after the end of radiotherapy) was 90.4%. Five recurrences have been observed in basal cell carcinomas, 2 centrally and 3 marginally respect to the irradiation field. The cosmetic results were evaluated as good or acceptable in 81% of cases. So far no complications nor sequelae to the treatment have been observed. Conclusions. Radiotherapy has resulted as a safe and effective treatment with a low cost in the management of this kind of skin neoplasms.