Abstract
Background: Radiotherapy is a valuable therapeutic option for the treatment of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) in the ageing population, in non-surgical candidates, or when the tumor is extensive or localized in a cosmetically sensitive area such as the lips. Objective: We report our 44-year experience in treating basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the vermilion lip using superficial radiotherapy. Methods: Forty-seven patients with biopsy-proven BCC or SCC of the lip were retrospectively reviewed. All patients had been treated with superficial radiotherapy in our unit, as a primary treatment or with adjuvant and salvage purposes. Lymph-node involvement at presentation was negative in all patients. Results: Local disease control was achieved in 91% of cases. Cure rates of 85% were obtained at 5 and 10 years. Four patients presented local tumor recurrence and only one patient developed lymphatic involvement. Cosmetic outcome was good in the majority of cases, and all patients, except for one, fully preserved the vermilion lip functionality. Conclusions: Our findings confirm that superficial radiotherapy is an effective treatment for early BCC or SCC of the vermilion lip, especially in the ageing population, in high-risk tumors, and even if poor cosmetic outcome is expected from surgical excision.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Journal of Dermatological Treatment |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 1 2019 |
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Keywords
- basal cell carcinoma
- Lip
- radiotherapy
- squamous cell carcinoma
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Dermatology
Cite this
Superficial radiotherapy for non-melanoma skin cancer of the lip : a 44-year Italian experience. / Piccinno, Roberta; Tavecchio, Simona; Benzecry, Valentina.
In: Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 01.01.2019.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Superficial radiotherapy for non-melanoma skin cancer of the lip
T2 - a 44-year Italian experience
AU - Piccinno, Roberta
AU - Tavecchio, Simona
AU - Benzecry, Valentina
PY - 2019/1/1
Y1 - 2019/1/1
N2 - Background: Radiotherapy is a valuable therapeutic option for the treatment of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) in the ageing population, in non-surgical candidates, or when the tumor is extensive or localized in a cosmetically sensitive area such as the lips. Objective: We report our 44-year experience in treating basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the vermilion lip using superficial radiotherapy. Methods: Forty-seven patients with biopsy-proven BCC or SCC of the lip were retrospectively reviewed. All patients had been treated with superficial radiotherapy in our unit, as a primary treatment or with adjuvant and salvage purposes. Lymph-node involvement at presentation was negative in all patients. Results: Local disease control was achieved in 91% of cases. Cure rates of 85% were obtained at 5 and 10 years. Four patients presented local tumor recurrence and only one patient developed lymphatic involvement. Cosmetic outcome was good in the majority of cases, and all patients, except for one, fully preserved the vermilion lip functionality. Conclusions: Our findings confirm that superficial radiotherapy is an effective treatment for early BCC or SCC of the vermilion lip, especially in the ageing population, in high-risk tumors, and even if poor cosmetic outcome is expected from surgical excision.
AB - Background: Radiotherapy is a valuable therapeutic option for the treatment of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) in the ageing population, in non-surgical candidates, or when the tumor is extensive or localized in a cosmetically sensitive area such as the lips. Objective: We report our 44-year experience in treating basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the vermilion lip using superficial radiotherapy. Methods: Forty-seven patients with biopsy-proven BCC or SCC of the lip were retrospectively reviewed. All patients had been treated with superficial radiotherapy in our unit, as a primary treatment or with adjuvant and salvage purposes. Lymph-node involvement at presentation was negative in all patients. Results: Local disease control was achieved in 91% of cases. Cure rates of 85% were obtained at 5 and 10 years. Four patients presented local tumor recurrence and only one patient developed lymphatic involvement. Cosmetic outcome was good in the majority of cases, and all patients, except for one, fully preserved the vermilion lip functionality. Conclusions: Our findings confirm that superficial radiotherapy is an effective treatment for early BCC or SCC of the vermilion lip, especially in the ageing population, in high-risk tumors, and even if poor cosmetic outcome is expected from surgical excision.
KW - basal cell carcinoma
KW - Lip
KW - radiotherapy
KW - squamous cell carcinoma
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85067565148&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85067565148&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/09546634.2019.1605137
DO - 10.1080/09546634.2019.1605137
M3 - Article
JO - Journal of Dermatological Treatment
JF - Journal of Dermatological Treatment
SN - 0954-6634
ER -