1. High-dose-rate (HDR) plesiotherapy with custom-made moulds for the treatment of non-melanoma skin cancer.
- Author
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Montero A, Hernanz R, Capuz AB, Fernández E, Hervás A, Colmenares R, Polo A, Sancho S, Molerón R, Vallejo C, and Ramos A
- Subjects
- Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Brachytherapy methods, Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation, Equipment Design, Female, Humans, Male, Radiotherapy Dosage, Radiotherapy, Adjuvant adverse effects, Radiotherapy, Adjuvant methods, Risk, Time Factors, Tomography, X-Ray Computed methods, Treatment Outcome, Skin Neoplasms radiotherapy
- Abstract
Background: Non-melanoma skin tumours (NMSC) are one of the most frequent types of cancer, accounting for nearly one third of newly diagnosed tumours. NMSC are frequently diagnosed in elderly patients and while mortality rates are low, NMSC can be associated with significant morbidity in terms of cosmetic and functional impairment., Objective: Surgical excision is nowadays considered the standard treatment for NMSC, although this approach might not be suitable for all the patients. Good rates of local control and cosmetic outcome are achieved by using high-dose-rate (HDR) plesiotherapy., Methods: Nine consecutive patients with 11 NMSC were treated with custom-made moulds and HDR plesiotherapy reaching a fi nal dose of 44-48 Gy in 11-12 fractions of 4 Gy over 4 weeks., Results: No local or distant relapses have been observed after a mean follow-up of 15 months (range 4-36 months). Acute toxicity was acceptable and cosmetic result was considered as excellent/good in 7 patients., Conclusions: This modality of treatment offers an alternative for those patients not candidates for surgical procedures because of medical contraindications or risk of disfigurement or functional impairment.
- Published
- 2009
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