Radiation Therapy for Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer: A Study of 63 Cases

Abstract

Cutaneous carcinomas are the most common skin cancers. Our work aims to identify the epidemiological and clinicopathological characteristics of cutaneous carcinomas, especially squamous cell carcinomas and basal cell carcinomas, treated and monitored at the Oncoradiotherapy Department of the Mohammed VI University Hospital of MARRAKECH, treated with radiotherapy, and to evaluate their efficacy and tolerance. Our study is retrospective and descriptive. We collected data from 63 patients treated and monitored between 2019 and 2022 at the Marrakech University Oncohematology Hospital. For each patient, we collected epidemiological, clinicopathological, therapeutic, and evolutionary data using an exploitation form. The age of the patients ranged from 27 to 95 years, with a peak between 61 and 70 years and a median of 64.32. Males predominated (74.6%). The matte skin phenotype was the most common, present in more than half of the patients. Among 63 patients surveyed, 69.8% had a history of prolonged sun exposure. Tumors of the head and neck were found in 65% of cases, with clinical appearance varying: 36.5% ulcerative-budding, 31.7% budding, 22.2% nodular, 6.4% sclerodermiform, and 3.2% ulcerated. Recurrences accounted for only 27% of consultations, and precancerous lesions were found in only 16% of patients. Most patients consulted at locally advanced stages (68.2%). Histologically, squamous cell carcinoma was confirmed in 63.5% of patients. External radiotherapy was performed in all patients, using three-dimensional conformal technique, adjuvant in 77.7% of cases, exclusive definitive in 19%, and palliative in 3.2% of cases. No patient received brachytherapy. Acute complications were observed in 52% of cases and late complications in 8%. After an average follow-up of 2 years, 76% of patients are still being followed in good disease control status with a complete response in 83% of them, 11% local recurrence, and 6% distant metastases. The incidence of cutaneous ........