Radiation therapy (RT) is a treatment option for selected skin cancers. The histologic effects of RT on normal skin or skin cancers are not well-characterized. Dermoscopy, high frequency ultrasonography (HFUS), and reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) are non-invasive imaging modalities that may help characterize RT response.
To describe changes in the tumor and surrounding skin of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) patients treated with RT.
The study was conducted between 2014-2018. Patients with biopsy-proven BCCs were treated with 42 Gy in 6 fractions using a commercially available brachytherapy device. Dermoscopy, HFUS, RCM were performed before treatment, 6 weeks, 3 months and 12 months after RT.
137 imaging assessments (RCM + dermoscopy + HFUS) were performed in 12 patients. Presence of BCC-specific features were present in 81.8%, 91% and 17% of patients imaged with dermoscopy, RCM and HFUS at baseline, prior to treatment. After treatment, resolution of these features was noted in 33.4%, 91.7%, and 100% of patients imaged with the respective modalities. No recurrences were seen after 31.7 months mean follow-up.
Small sample size and no histopathological correlation.
Dermoscopy and HFUS were not as reliable as RCM at characterizing BCCs RT response.
Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Inc.
In vivo imaging characterization of basal cell carcinoma cutaneous response to high dose ionizing radiation therapy: A prospective study of reflectance confocal microscopy, dermoscopy, and ultrasound.
