Radiation therapy for skin cancer

Proceedings of the 35th Annual ASTRO Meeting

121

the basal cell nevoid syndrome will be discussed. Special attention will be given to tumours at particular sites such as the eyelid, nose, ear, lip and back of the hand. Beyafs: For basal and squamous cell carcinomas treated by radiotherapy, the control rate is 95% and the cosmetic and functional results usually excellent. Conclusion: Judicious radiotherapy is a very effective treatment for skin malignancies. It is almost becoming a lost art but the results more than justify its place as a primary treatment for many skin cancers. The effective doses that produce the best results while minimixing complications will be described for the tumours that are discussed.

507 HODGKJN’S DISEASE Nancy Price Mendenhall, M.D. Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610 a: To present an overview of Hodgkin’s disease, a detailed description of the treatment technique employed at our institution, and a discussion of management issues in patients with low, intermediate, high-risk, and recurrent disease based on prognostic factors and rates of relapse-free survival, overall survival, and cause-specific survival. Treatment morbidity from both radiation therapy and chemotherapy will be reviewed. The issues of optimal radiation dose, elective pelvic irradiation, and elective lung irradiation will also be discussed. s & M&Q&

Data ftom the literature and from our institution will IX presented and treatment techniques will be demonstrated.

&&: Although there are. multiple treatment options for virtually all presentations of Hodgkin’s disease, there appears to be a welldefined role of radiation in the management of almost all adult patients. m: The goals of therapy in Hodgkin’s disease include not only improvement in survival but reduction of treatment related morbidity, both of which requite careful attention to the details of radiation treatment technique.

508 BRACHYTHERAPY FOR PROSTATE CANCER Kent Wallner, M.D. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Dept. of Radiation Oncology, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021

. . Purrrose/Oblectlve:To review the radiobiologic and physical rationale for prostate brachytherapy. The available isotopes, rationale for permanent versus temporary implants and criteria for patient selection will be discussed. practical aspects of newer, tramperineal techniques. s & Metha: presented.

Classical and not-so classical literature will be reviewed.

Particular emphasis will be placed on the

Current results from several institutions will be

&slllts: With previously employed retropubic implantation techniques, local tumor control and long-tetrn survival has been similar to that achieved with external beam irradiation or prostatectomy. Early results looking at PSA responses following current transperineal implantation techniques are similar or better than those reported for surgery or external beam irradiation. Morbidity following prostate implantation has been acceptable and maintenance of potency is higher than that following prostatectomy or external beam irradiation. QQ&&:

There is resurgent interest in prostate brachytherapy. Preliminary results are encouraging.