Maroñas M, Guinot JL, Arribas L, Carrascosa M, Tortajada MI, Carmona R, Estornell M, Muelas R. Treatment of facial cutaneous carcinoma with high-dose rate contact brachytherapy with customized molds.
Brachytherapy 2010;
10:221-7. [PMID:
20932808 DOI:
10.1016/j.brachy.2010.08.005]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2010] [Revised: 08/03/2010] [Accepted: 08/09/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
The main treatment given for initial stage facial epitheliomas is surgery, although there are alternatives. We present our results with Ir-192 high-dose rate (HDR) contact brachytherapy.
METHODS AND MATERIALS
Fifty-one epitheliomas, with a mean size of 1.5 cm and a maximum thickness of 3mm, were treated with HDR contact brachytherapy by means of customized molds, with plastic tubes on bolus for flat surfaces and on wax molds for the nose. A total dose of 48-57 Gy, 3-4 Gy/fraction three times a week, was administered.
RESULTS
After a median followup of 45 months, five tumors relapsed (9.8%), four of them on the tip of the nose. The 5-year actuarial local control rate was 89%, 100% for flat surfaces, and 83% for the nose. All of them were salvaged with surgery. The treatment was well tolerated, 21.6% developed severe acute toxicity, with good or very good late cosmetic results.
CONCLUSION
HDR contact brachytherapy is a good alternative to treat facial epitheliomas with a maximum thickness of 3mm. Tip of the nose tumors are not well covered with this technique and a different procedure is required.
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