ESTRO 2023

Session Item

Brachytherapy: Head and neck, skin, eye

Session Code: 7018

Session Type: Poster (Digital)

Track: Brachytherapy

BRACHYTHERAPY IN THE ELDERLY FOR NON-MELANOMA SKIN CARCERS:A SINGLE CENTER EXPERIENCE

BIANCA SANTO, Italy

Presentation Number: PO-2184

Abstract

Abstract Title:

BRACHYTHERAPY IN THE ELDERLY FOR NON-MELANOMA SKIN CARCERS:A SINGLE CENTER EXPERIENCE

Authors:

BIANCA SANTO¹, Maria Cristina Barba², Elisa Cavalera³, Elisa Ciurlia², Paola De Franco², Giuseppe Di Paola², Sara De Matteis², Corradino Federico⁴, Angela Leone², Antonella Papapleo², Donatella Russo²

¹Vito Fazzi Hospital , Radiation Oncology Department, LECCE, Italy; ²Vito Fazzi Hospital, Radiation Oncology Department, LECCE, Italy; ³Vito Fazzi Hospital, Radiation Oncology Department, LECCE, Italy; ⁴University of Naples “Federico II", Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Naples, Italy

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Purpose or Objective

Non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) are the most common malignancy worldwide, of which 99% are basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) and squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) of skin. Mainstays of treatment remain surgery and radiotherapy, particularly in older patients (≥70 years old). High dose rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT), seems to be an excellent option for NMSC.

Material and Methods

Between November 2011 and September 2022, we treated 16 patients for a total of forty-two lesions in aged patients with NMSC with HDR-BT. Patients underwent brachytherapy treatment for a total dose ranging from 30 to 40 Gy (10 Gy per fraction). Toxicities were recorded using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events scale (CTCAE) v. 4.03.

Results

Median age was 83 years. Acute toxicity was recorded in all patients. Grade 1 erythema appeared in 12 cases (28.6%) and it was self-resolved with the application of eudermic cream in 10 days; Grade 2 erythema appeared in all 28 cases(66.7%). Towards the end of each treatment schedule, epidermolysis developed which was resolved within 3 weeks; Grade 3 skin toxicity apperars in 2 cases (4.8%) and was managed with dressings and close outpatient follow-up until complete resolution in 5 weeks. Late toxicity: Grade 1 skin atrophy and pigmentation changes in field were observed in all patients. At last follow-up, all patients were disease free.

Conclusion

Personalized HDR-BT appears to be safe for older patients and management of skin toxicity is manageable. Furthermore, the treatment of the lesions avoids the complications associated with the progression of the disease.