ORIGINAL ARTICLE   Free access

Italian Journal of Dermatology and Venereology 2022 February;157(1):92-100

DOI: 10.23736/S2784-8671.21.06905-4

Copyright © 2021 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

lingua: Inglese

Radiation therapy of non-melanoma skin cancer of the pinna: an Italian 35-year experience

Cristina B. SPIGARIOLO ^{1, 2} ✉, Emilio BERTI ^{1, 2}, Roberto BRAMBILLA ³, Roberta PICCINNO ^{1, 4}

¹ Unit of Dermatology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy; ² Department of Medico-Surgical and Transplantation Pathophysiology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; ³ Unit of Medical Physics, Department of Preventive Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy; ⁴ Section of Photoradiotherapy, Unit of Dermatology, Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy

BACKGROUND: Radiation therapy (RT) is a well-known alternative to surgery for the treatment of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), especially in elderly people or in patients who cannot undergo or refuse surgical procedure. It has also a pivotal role in those areas, as pinna, where both function and cosmesis must be preserved. We report our experience in treating cutaneous carcinoma of the auricle with radiation therapy.
METHODS: We conducted a retrospective monocentric study on 363 NMSC of the auricle treated by conventional energy radiation therapy as a primary treatment or with adjuvant and salvage purpose. Tumors involving the external canal of the ear or regional lymph node at diagnosis were excluded.
RESULTS: A complete response has been obtained in 95.5% with a 2- and 5-year cure rate respectively of 84% and 76%. Fifty-two tumors developed a central or marginal relapse. Aesthetic result was good or acceptable in the majority of the cases. No cartilage necrosis has been registered.
CONCLUSIONS: Our experience confirms safety and effectiveness of RT on selected auricle carcinoma, affording good cosmetic and functional results.

KEY WORDS: Radiotherapy; Ear; Ear auricle; Skin neoplasms