Basal Cell Carcinoma Treated with High Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy-Early Evaluation of Clinical and Dermoscopic Patterns during Irradiation

Dermoscopy of acute radiation-induced dermatitis in patients with head and neck cancers treated with radiotherapy

Head and neck cancer (HNC) was the seventh most common cancer in the world in 2018. Treatment of a patient may include surgery, radiotherapy (RT), chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, or a combination of these methods. Ionizing radiation used during RT covers relatively large volumes of healthy tissue surrounding the tumor. The acute form of radiation-induced dermatitis (ARD) are skin lesions that appear usually within 90 days of the start of RT. This is a prospective study which compares 2244 dermoscopy images and 374 clinical photographs of irradiated skin and healthy skin of 26 patients at on average 15 time points. Dermoscopy pictures were evaluated independently by 2 blinded physicians. Vessels in reticular distribution, white, yellow or brown scale in a patchy distribution, perifollicular pigmentation and follicular plugs arranged in rosettes were most often observed. For these dermoscopic features, agreement with macroscopic features was observed. Two independent predictors of severe acute toxicity were identified: gender and concurrent chemotherapy. Knowledge of dermoscopic features could help in the early assessment of acute toxicity and the immediate implementation of appropriate therapeutic strategies. This may increase the tolerance of RT in these groups of patients.

Basal Cell Carcinoma After High Dose Rate Brachytherapy: Medium-term Dermoscopic Evaluation of Cancer's Response

INTRODUCTION

Basal cell carcinoma of the facial region remains a challenge for contemporary oncology due to the presence of aesthetic regions and critical organs. Surgery is not always the optimal solution, and high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy has emerged as an organ-sparing treatment method whose effectiveness has been proven by a growing number of publications. Dermoscopy is a diagnostic tool that bridges clinical and pathological examination of skin lesions. It is routinely used for diagnosis, monitoring of treatment, and post-treatment evaluation; however, the literature lacks data concerning changes in dermoscopic patterns of skin cancers during and after irradiation.

METHODS

Our team conducted a prospective non-randomized trial of 39 patients with high-risk basal cell carcinomas (BCCs), mostly localized within the high-risk zone (H-zone) of the facial region, and who qualified for HDR brachytherapy. HDR contact brachytherapy with custom-made surface molds was introduced, delivering a dose of 45 Gy in 9 fractions prescribed to the tumor. Every patient was observed clinically and dermoscopically at three observational points: before treatment, at the end of treatment (3rd week), and 24 weeks after the end of therapy. The evolution of clinical and dermoscopic patterns was observed by two independent dermoscopists using current diagnostic criteria. A database of 12,088 photographic observations was evaluated.

RESULTS

Univariate logistic regression proved that brachytherapy decreases the number of clinical and dermoscopic patterns typical for basal cell carcinoma, as well as dermoscopic features not related to BCC, presumably due to the formation of scar tissue. In addition, univariate logistic regression with random effects proved a positive correlation between tumor size and presence of various dermoscopic patterns typical for BCC.

CONCLUSION

Dermoscopy is proven to be easy to perform and an adequate monitoring tool for patients with BCCs undergoing HDR brachytherapy.

High Dose Rate Brachytherapy in non - melanoma skin cancer - systematic review

Non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC's) are the most common malignancies worldwide. Millions of new cases every year present challenge to healthcare systems. Recent years brought numerous new data concerning High Dose Rate (HDR) brachytherapy as treatment option for NMSC's. International guidelines do not recognize brachytherapy as a method of choice given lack of randomized trials, however many prospective and retrospective studies show promising results. Aim of the study was to present the efficacy of HDR brachytherapy, with analysis of its safety and adverse effects based on review of the English published medical full-text papers. Literature review of thirteen articles published between 1999 and 2021 was performed. Pubmed and Google Scholar databases were searched on October 2021 using keywords: ((Basal cell carcinoma) OR (squamous cell carcinoma) OR (non-melanoma skin cancer)) AND (HDR brachytherapy). Fourteen full text English articles with follow up over 1 year and study group over 50 patients were included into analysis. In analyzed material 2403 patients received High Dose Rate brachytherapy. Local control varied between 71 and 99%.Dominant reported cosmetic effect was good or very good. Results were cross-referenced with recent meta-analyses comparing brachytherapy to surgical excision, Mohs microsurgery and external beam radiotherapy. Radiodermitis is the main adverse effect of radiation treatment during and after radiotherapy. HDR brachytherapy emerges as potentially non-inferior treatment method providing very good reported cosmetic outcomes.