Facial Basal Cell Carcinomas in Elderly Frail Patients Treated with Low Total-dose Radiotherapy

A retrospective analysis was performed in our two Institutions in order to evaluate the feasibility and reliability of a hypofractionated-radiotherapy regimen in the treatment of frail elderly patients with facial basal cell carcinomas (BCCs).The records of elderly patients (age >75 years) with histologically-confirmed BCC, T1-2, treated to a total radiation dose of 25-30 Gy over 5-6 weeks, were retrospectively analyzed.From February 2007-December 2010, 134 ambulatory patients with 159 BCCs were treated. Their median age was 82.5 years (range=75-103). Grade 1-2 skin acute toxicities were observed in 30.6% of patients (41/134). Complete responses were observed in 157 tumors in 132 patients. At the last follow-up, June 2014, no late toxicities had been noted; three patients had local recurrent disease.Our results seem to demonstrate both the feasibility and efficacy of curative hypofractionated radiation therapy in elderly patients with BCCs unfit for daily irradiation.