Cryoradiation therapy of the patients presenting with locally advanced auricular skin cancer

: The objective of the present work was to improve the efficacy of treatment of locally advanced auricular skin cancer with the use of the newly proposed combined method including cryogenic and radiotherapy. The choice of the optimal temporal and thermal parameters of combined cryoradiotherapy was based on the results of previous experimental and theoretical investigations. Each radiation treatment session was immediately preceded by local cooling of the tumour down to 0°C - minus 5°C with a nitrogen vapour. Radiotherapy was performed with the use of either photon or electron radiation at a single local dose of 2 Gy-2.25 Gy (the total cumulative dose 64 Gy-68 Gy). As many as 14 patients presenting with locally advanced auricular skin cancer received combined cryogenic and radiotherapy; 10 of them had basal cell carcinoma and 4 squamous cell carcinoma. In all these cases, the treatment resulted in the complete regression of the tumours. Further observation during a follow-up period from 2 to 14 years in duration demonstrated that only two patients developed tumour relapses. These secondary neoplasms were successfully treated by cryodestruction (n=1) and surgical ablation (n=1). The proposed cryoradiotherapy made it possible to preserve the anatomical relief of the auricle and the auditory passage with good aesthetic and functional outcomes.