This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Michael Landthaler, MD; Hans-Joachim Hagspiel, MD; Otto Braun-Falco, MD

Arch Dermatol. 1995;131(2):182-186.

Abstract
Background
Although radiotherapy of skin tumors has lost its former preeminence, there is still need for this modality. The aim of this study was, therefore, to determine the frequency of radiogenic ulcers and tumors following soft x-ray therapy of skin lesions.

Study Design
A total of 612 radiation sites in 522 patients were retrospectively analyzed by means of medical records. All patients received at least a total dose of more than 12 Gy and had a minimum follow-up time of 10 years. The average radiation dose was about 80 Gy, ranging from 56 to 184 Gy. Determined was occurrence of radiogenic tumors after more than 10 years and of ulcers during the entire follow-up period. The frequency of radiogenic tumors and ulcers was related to the total dose applied and the patient's age at the time of irradiation.

Results
In the 612 radiation fields used, 58 ulcers (9.4%), 12 basal cell carcinomas (2%), and nine squamous cell carcinomas (1.5%) were observed. There was no relationship between the total dose of radiation and the frequency of tumors; in contrast, radiogenic ulcers increased with a higher total dose. Radiogenic ulcers occurred more often in patients who were of a younger age at the time of irradiation.

Conclusions
The risk of developing radiogenic ulcers and tumors after soft x-ray therapy is not very high. Since most of the ulcers can be prevented by modern dose recommendation (time dose fractionation factor), soft xray therapy can be considered as a safe and effective means of therapy, especially in older patients.

(Arch Dermatol. 1995;131:182-186)

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Dermatology, University of Regensburg (Dr Landthaler), and the Department of Dermatology, University of Munich (Drs Hagspiel and Braun-Falco), Germany.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Secondary Tumors After X-ray Radiation Therapy of the Skin
Sminia and Carl
Arch Dermatol 1995;131:1088-1088.
ABSTRACT  

Dermatology in South Africa-Reply
Landthaler and Hagspiel
Arch Dermatol 1995;131:1088-1089.
ABSTRACT