Site Editor
Soo Park, MD
Soo Park, MD
Posted: Wednesday, February 23, 2022
According to research presented in the Journal of Contemporary Brachytherapy, patients with non-melanoma skin cancer may benefit from undergoing high-dose–rate brachytherapy using Valencia applicators. Fabiola Paiar, MD, PhD, of the University of Pisa in Italy, and colleagues determined that the treatment may be an alternative for elderly patients who may not be candidates for surgery.
The retrospective study analyzed data from 95 patients with non-melanoma skin cancer who received iridium-192 high-dose–rate brachytherapy using Valencia applicators between June 2015 and December 2020 at the University of Pisa. Represented cancers included basal cell carcinoma (61.5%) and squamous cell carcinoma (38.5%). Across all patients, 182 lesions located on the face (20.9%), scalp (19.2%), extremities (19.2%), nose (15.4%), ear (15.4%), and chest (8.8%) were analyzed. All reviewed lesions were a maximum of 25 mm in diameter and 4 mm in depth. Lesions underwent treatment of 40 Gy in 8 fractions two to three times weekly using Valencia applicators with a diameter of either 20 mm (n = 105; 57.7%) or 30 mm (n = 77; 42.3%).
At a median follow-up of 14 months, the 2-year local control rate was 96%. The most commonly occurring late toxicities were grade 1 hypopigmentation (27.5%) and fibrosis (8.2%) and grade 2 ulceration (0.5%). Dermatitis (22.0%) and pain (8.2%) occurred as acute grade 1 or 2 toxicities. One poor cosmetic result (0.5%) was reported, and 77.5% of lesions experienced excellent cosmetic results.
Disclosure: For full disclosures of the study authors, visit termedia.pl.
Journal of Contemporary Brachytherapy
JNCCN Spotlights
