[Electron beam irradiation is effective in the treatment of skin carcinomas; a comparison with superficial roentgen therapy].

OBJECTIVE:To compare recurrence rates and cosmetic results after electron beam therapy versus superficial X-ray therapy for basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas of the skin. SETTING:Department of Radiotherapy, University Hospital Leiden, the Netherlands. DESIGN:Retrospective. METHODS:A retrospective analysis was performed of 389 histologically confirmed basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas of the skin (1980-1990), treated with either superficial X-rays or electron beam therapy, with regard to local recurrence rates and cosmetics scored with an arbitrary three point scale. RESULTS:Of 389 patients 19 developed a local recurrence (4.9%). For small tumours (irradiated surfaces < or = 10 cm2) a local recurrence rate of 2.2% was observed, both after electron beam therapy and after superficial X-ray therapy. Large tumours (irradiated surface > 50 cm2, treated with electron beam) had a higher recurrence rate (13.8%) as had tumours which had been treated before. The cosmetic results with electron beam treatment were better, because smaller fractions were used compared with superficial X-ray treatment. CONCLUSION:In our hands electron beam treatment was not inferior to superficial X-ray treatment, cosmetically even better and also applicable in case of larger tumours. The inferior results of electron beam therapy reported in literature may be due to technical factors.