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Radiation Therapy for Angiosarcoma of the Scalp: Total Scalp Irradiation and Local Irradiation
- Source :
- Anticancer research. 38(3)
- Publication Year :
- 2017
-
Abstract
- Angiosarcoma, a rare cutaneous malignancy, frequently arises in the scalp of older individuals. Because it characteristically initially mimics benign disease, such as a bruise, definitive diagnosis in the early stages is difficult. Angiosarcoma of the scalp is highly malignant and often accompanied by lung metastases that cause hemopneumothorax. Although surgery has been the standard and most reliable curative treatment for angiosarcoma of the scalp, there is a high probability of local recurrence, even after wide surgical excision. Therefore, postoperative radiation therapy has been administered in an attempt to minimize local recurrence. However, surgery is contraindicated in many older patients because of severe comorbidities or age. Definitive radiation therapy has been administered to such patients and has achieved good local control. In particular, total scalp irradiation may be a promising option for curative treatment of angiosarcoma of the scalp. Recent reports suggest that chemotherapy, particularly with taxanes, can prolong survival by reducing the rate of distant failure after radiation therapy. Thus, radiation therapy along with chemotherapy is now recommended for curative treatment of patients with inoperable disease and even some patients with operable disease. Technological developments in radiation therapy, such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy, will contribute to enhanced efficacy and reduced toxicities in the treatment of patients with angiosarcoma of the scalp.
- Subjects :
- Cancer Research
medicine.medical_specialty
Skin Neoplasms
040301 veterinary sciences
medicine.medical_treatment
Hemangiosarcoma
Disease
0403 veterinary science
03 medical and health sciences
0302 clinical medicine
Medicine
Humans
Angiosarcoma
Hemopneumothorax
Chemotherapy
Lung
Scalp
business.industry
04 agricultural and veterinary sciences
General Medicine
medicine.disease
Radiation therapy
medicine.anatomical_structure
Treatment Outcome
Oncology
Head and Neck Neoplasms
030220 oncology & carcinogenesis
Radiology
Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated
business
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 17917530
- Volume :
- 38
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Anticancer research
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....a6c71755565eb0b692c766d35a497bea