Radiotherapy of skin carcinomas of the pinna: a study of 115 lesions in 108 patients

Background  The possibility of treating skin carcinomas of the pinna with radiotherapy is somewhat under discussion and scarcely known. Therefore the aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of dermatologic radiotherapy in a series of patients affected by basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the pinna. Methods  A retrospective study was performed on 108 patients affected by 115 carcinomas of the pinna (99 basal cell carcinomas, 16 squamous cell carcinomas) without involvement of the external auditory canal. Radiotherapy was performed with kilovoltage techniques (55–120 kV) and the total doses administered ranged from 45 to 70 Gy (105 Gy in one case only), with different fractionations. Results  The mean follow-up was 28.80 months. Complete remission was obtained in 111 lesions (96.52%) and partial remission in one (0.87%), as evaluated 1 month after the end of radiotherapy. No response was observed in two lesions (1.74%). The response was not evaluable in one lesion (0.87%). During follow up a relapse was observed in 12 lesions (all basal cell carcinomas): nine central and three marginal to the irradiation field. The 5-year cure-rate from the end of radiotherapy was 78%. The cosmetic results were evaluated as good or acceptable in 88.28% of lesions. No complications nor sequelae to the treatment were observed. Conclusions  The results obtained confirm the possibility of treating epithelial skin neoplasms of the pinna with dermatologic radiotherapy, which can afford high-remission percentages without damaging cartilaginous tissue.