Radiation Therapy in Elderly Skin Cancer

Purpose: To evaluate the long term results(local control, survival, failure, and complications) after radiation therapy for skin cancer in elderly patients. Material and Methods: The study spanned from January 1990 to October 2002. Fifteen elderly patients with skin cancer were treated by radiotherapy at the Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center. The age distribution of the patients surveyed was 72 to 95 years, with a median age of 78.8 years. The pathologic classification of the 15 patients included squamous cell carcinoma(10 patients), basal cell carcinoma(3 patients), verrucous carcinoma(1 patient) and skin adnexal origin carcinoma(1 patient). The most common tumor location was the head(13 patients). The mean tumor diameter was 4.9 cm(range 2 to 9 cm). The radiation dose was delivered via an electron beam of 6 to 15 MeV. The dose range was adjusted to the tumor diameter and depth of tumor invasion. The total radiation dose ranged from $50{\sim}80$ Gy(mean: 66 Gy) with a 2 Gy fractional dose prescribed to the 80% isodose line once a day and 5 times a week. One patient with lymph node metastasis was treated with six MV photon beams boosted with electron beams. The length of the follow-up periods ranged from 10 to 120 months with a median follow-up period of 48 months. Results: The local control rates were 100%(15/15). In addition, the five year disease free survival rate(5YDFS) was 80% and twelve patients(80%) had no recurrence and skin cancer recurrence occurred in 3 patients(20%). Three patients have lived an average of 90 months($68{\sim}120$ months) without recurrence or metastasis. A total of 9 patients who died as a result of other causes had a mean survival time of 55.8 months after radiation therapy. No severe acute or chronic complications were observed after radiation therapy. Only minor complications including radiation dermatitis was treated with supportive care. Conclusion: The results suggest that radiation therapy is an effective and safe treatment method for the treatment of skin cancer in elderly patients who achieved a good survival rate and few minor complications.

노령의 피부암에서 방사선치료

목적: 노령의 피부암에서 방사선치료 후 국소 제어률, 생존율, 실패양상, 부작용을 알아보기 위해 이 연구를 시행하였다. 대상 및 방법: 1990년 1월부터 2002년 10월까지 계명대학교 동산의료원 방사선종양학과에서 방사선치료를 받은 노령 환자 15명을 대상으로 하였다. 연령 분포는 72세에서 95세로 평균 78.8세였다. 병리학적으로 10명은 편평상피암이었고 3명은 기저세포암이었고 1명은 사마귀상암, 1명은 피부부속기원암이었다. 종괴의 위치로는 두부가 13명으로 대부분을 차지하였다. 종괴의 장경은 평균 4.9cm($2{\sim}9cm$)이었다. 방사선치료는 $6{\sim}15$ MeV의 전자선을 종괴의 크기와 깊이에 맞추어 사용하였으며 80% 등선량곡선에 하루에 2 Gy 씩 주 5회 사용하였으며 총방사선량은 $50{\sim}80$ Gy(평균 66 Gy)를 조사하였다. 림프절전이가 있었던 1명은 6 MV X-선으로 치료한 후 전자선으로 추가 조사하였다. 추적기간은 10개월에서 120개월로 중앙값 48개월이었다. 결과: 모든 환자에서 완전관해를 얻었으며 5년 무병생존율은 80%이었다. 전체 15명 중 12명은 재발이 없었다. 3명은 재발없이 평균 90개월($68{\sim}120$개월)동안 생존하고 있으며 방사선치료 후 20%(3/15)에서 재발하였고 9명은 재발이나 전이없이 평균 55.8개월 살다가 다른 병으로 사망하였다. 방사선치료 중 방사선 피부염 외에는 특별한 부작용은 없었으며 방사선피부염은 치료 종료 후 보존적 치료로 회복 되었다. 결론: 노령의 피부암의 방사선치료는 매우 효과적이며 안전하며 좋은 생존율을 보인다고 사료된다.