CONTACT RADIOTHERAPY FOR NON-MELANOMA SKIN CANCER OF THE FACE: EXPERIENCE OF TUNISIAN CENTER

Objective: Radiation therapy has shown to be an effective option that could be proposed as a definitive or adjuvant treatment in the management of non-melanoma skin cancers of the face. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome and cosmetic results after contact radiotherapy for non-melanoma skin cancers.
Methods: From 2010 to 2015, thirty-five patients with histologically-proven diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the face have been treated with exclusive or post operative contact radiotherapy.
Results: Of the 35 tumors, 31% were peri-orbital, 31% were peri-nasal, 23% were jugal and 15% were in the labial corner. Median tumor size was 17.5 mm. Histological type was basal cell carcinoma 71.4% of cases and squamous cell carcinoma in 28.5%. Radiotherapy was exclusive in 66% of cases and post-operative in 34%.
After a median follow-up of 34 months, three patients presented local tumor recurrence.
Disease free survival rates at 3 and 5 years were 88% and 60% respectively.
The aesthetic outcome was scored as “good” in 86% of cases. Five patients (14%) were scored as “acceptable”.
Conclusion: Our findings suggest that contact radiotherapy is an effective alternative for non-melanoma skin cancers of the face.
Keywords: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, contact radiotherapy