Treatment of Skin Tumours by Brachytherapy - the Authors’ Experience

Overview

Between January 1994 and December 1999 the authors treated 120 skin tumours in 88 patients by means of surface brachytherapy. In more than half the cases basocellular carcinoma was involved, less frequently spinocellular carcinoma or other histological types (Kaposi’s sarcoma, dermal metastases of a malignant melanoma, breast cancer, parotid gland carcinoma and others).For actinotherapy the authors used automatic afterloading radiation equipment with a source Ir192 HDR. The most frequently used irradiation pattern was 10x5.0 Gy focused on the surface. The irradiated surface varied between 1 sq.cm and 284 sq.cm, mean 31 sq-cm.Complete regression was recorded in 101 lesions (84.1 %), partial regression in 8 lesions (6.7 %).More serious local complications were recorded in four patients.Irradiation of skin tumours using moulage is a very simple, elegant and safe method with a favourable therapeutic effect.

Key words:
skin tumours - treatment - brachytherapy