EARLY RESULTS OF A HYPOFRACTIONATED IRRADIATION SCHEDULE IN EARLY SKIN CARSINOMAS

We conducted a prospective study for treatment of early skin carcinomas with hypofractionated radiotherapy regime between November 1998 and September 2000 at the Department of Radiation Oncology of Istanbul University. 24 primer skin carcinomas of T1-2N0M0 staged (21 tumors were T1 N 0,M0 3 tumors were T2N0M0) of the head and neck region in 22 patients were treated with superficial X-ray therapy unit according to hypofractionated radiotherapy regime (4300 cGy/10fr/12 days). Either punch biopsi or incisional biopsi was done for all lesions. There were 13 epidermoid carsinomas, 9 basal cell carsinomas and 2 baso-squamous cell carsinomas. The mean age of the patients was 62 and the median follow-up time was 18 months after treatment. Acute and late radiation reactions were classified according to RTOG/EORTC and SOMA score criteria. The tolerance of hypofractionated regime was excellent in all cases. Early radiation reactions and late severe radiation complications weren't detected during follow-up period. Local control were established in all cases (100%). Regional failure was developed in only one patient (5%) from lower lip cancer after 12 months. This patient was treated with rescue surgery. Although the follow-up period is short, acute reactions of hypofractionated regime were tolerated well, a good level of functional and cosmetic results were obtained and tumors controlled in all cases. Therefore it is concluded that this type of hypcfractionated regime can be given to old and frible patients with accommodation problems in big cities.

Keywords: early skincarninoma, hypofractionated radiotherapy