Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is the second most common skin cancer in the world. A minority of patients will be given a diagnosis of a high-risk cSCC (HRcSCC) and a proportion of these ...will have a poor outcome. HRcSCC is characterized by an increase in aggressiveness manifested as locoregional recurrence, and occasionally death. The utility of sentinel lymph node biopsy in this group of patients is unclear without high-level evidence or clear-cut recommendations. If clinicians accept a cutoff threshold of 10% risk of harboring occult nodal metastasis, then a selected group of patients with HRcSCC may benefit from sentinel lymph node biopsy. We performed a review of the currently available evidence, in the form of systematic reviews, meta-analysis, trials, and case series and analyzed the features that define a HRcSCC and the feasibility of performing sentinel lymph node biopsy in this group of patients.
Nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is the most common cancer worldwide and the most frequently observed malignancy in whites. Approximately 75% to 80% are basal cell carcinomas and 20% to 25% are ...squamous cell carcinomas. Incidence is increasing, partly reflecting an ageing population, and NMSC is more commonly seen in men. The predominant causative agent is ultraviolet solar radiation exposure, with the majority of cases occurring on the head and neck. Surgical excision is typically the treatment of choice, providing histopathologic information, high cure rates, and acceptable cosmetic and functional outcomes. Radiation therapy is reserved for cases where surgery is not the preferred choice or for high-risk cases where adjuvant therapy is recommended. Although overall mortality rates are low, patients with complex cases such as those with immunosuppression should be considered for management within multidisciplinary tumor boards. In contrast, Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare and aggressive malignancy, frequently arising on the head and neck in older whites, with a poorer prognosis. This article focuses on the current evidence guiding practice, recent advances, and areas of controversy in NMSC and Merkel cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
•Radiotherapy is important the management of nonmelanoma skin cancer.•Efficacy and side-effects of radiotherapy for skin cancer are well established.•Novel techniques improve access and quality of ...radiotherapy for skin cancer.
This article reviews the important role of radiotherapy in the management of early non-melanoma skin cancer, in the definitive and adjuvant settings. Therapeutic considerations and appropriate patient selection will be discussed, as well as evidence for efficacy and potential side-effects. Additionally, we present some recent advances which may improve accessibility and quality of radiotherapy, such as more convenient dose-fractionation, wide-field treatments, electronic brachytherapy and 3D printed bolus.
Background Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an uncommon radiosensitive, neuroendocrine malignancy. Treatment often involves surgery; however, older, sicker patients may not be candidates for an ...operation. Institutions have published data favoring the role of definitive radiotherapy for macroscopic locoregional disease. Objective Our objective was to report the outcome of patients treated with definitive radiotherapy. Methods We performed a systematic review of Medline, PubMed, and Embase databases for reported cases or series of definitive radiotherapy for macroscopic locoregional MCC. Results The mean radiation dose did not significantly differ between primary and regional sites (48.7 ± 13.2 vs 49.4 ± 10.1 Gy, P = .74). The rate of recurrence was calculated on the basis of the site of disease (11.7%) and per patient (14.3%). Recurrence was significantly more likely to occur at regional than at primary irradiated sites (16.3% vs 7.6%, P = .02). There was no association between radiotherapy dose and incidence of recurrence or nonrecurrence; primary (42.7 ± 23 vs 49.3 ± 11.8 Gy, P = .197) and regional (48.6 ± 10 vs 49.5 ± 10.3 Gy, P = .77). Limitations A limitation of this report is that most publications were retrospective; heterogeneity was present in the size of MCC and in radiotherapy details. Conclusions Definitive radiotherapy for locoregional macroscopic MCC was found to confer clinically meaningful local and regional in-field control.
Background
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive cutaneous neuroendocrine tumor arising on the head and neck in 40%‐50% of patients. Between 20% and 40% will harbor subclinical nodal ...metastasis.
Methods
Using search terms ‘Merkel AND sentinel’, MEDLINE, PUMED, and EMBASE databases were systematically reviewed for publications regarding sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in classification I and II MCC of the head and neck.
Results
Twenty‐nine publications encompassing 136 patients were included. The SLNB finding was positive in 42 patients (30.9%). Primary MCC was located on the malar/zygomatic (34.4%), forehead/frontal (13.5%), and nasal (13.5%) regions. Recurrence in an SLNB negative nodal basin result occurred in 10 patients (false negative rate of 19.2%). Site of primary MCC was not associated with a false‐negative SLNB result; however, there was a non‐statistically significant trend for increased frequency among midline lesions.
Conclusions
Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is recommended for eligible patients with classification I and II head and neck MCC.
Background Merkel cell carcinoma is a highly aggressive cutaneous malignancy with a high rate of lymph node and distant metastatic disease. Approximately one third of patients present with stage IIIB ...(nodal) disease. Objective This cohort study was performed to analyze the outcome of patients with stage IIIB disease with or without an occult primary. Methods The details of 91 patients with stage IIIB (nodal) Merkel cell carcinoma treated curatively between 1985 and 2010 at 3 tertiary referral hospitals in Australia were reviewed. Kaplan-Meier plots were used with the primary end point being overall survival. Secondary end points were disease-free survival and relapse-free survival. A multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed for known prognostic factors. Results Of 91 patients with stage IIIB (nodal) disease, 36 (40%) had an occult primary. A total of 78 patients (86%) had surgery and 79 patients (87%) had definitive or adjuvant radiotherapy. With a median follow-up of 4.3 years, those with an occult primary did significantly better in terms of overall survival, disease-free survival, and relapse-free survival. On multivariate analysis, occult primary and patient age were the only factors predicting survival with hazard ratios of 0.30 (95% confidence interval 0.13-0.67) and 1.64 (95% confidence interval 1.13-2.38), respectively. Limitations This is a retrospective study over several decades with patients treated using various modalities. Conclusion This study indicates that for patients with stage IIIB (nodal) Merkel cell carcinoma, the presence of an occult primary confers a significantly better prognosis that may have implications in the future staging and treatment of patients with stage III disease.
Background Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, aggressive cutaneous malignancy. Nodal status has prognostic significance. Objective We sought to analyze for factors predictive of survival and ...explore the significance of lymph node status and indication for sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with MCC. Methods A review was undertaken of 136 patients presenting with MCC at our institution between 1980 and 2008. Patient and tumor characteristics, treatment, and patterns of relapse were analyzed. Results Ninety patients presented with stage I disease, and 46 presented with stage II disease. The median follow-up time was 21 months. In all, 74 patients developed relapse with the commonest site of relapse in the regional lymph nodes. A total of 24 patients developed nodal relapse without prior treatment of the nodal basin. The 5-year survival was 62% and the median disease-free interval was 16 months. Radiotherapy was associated with a better disease-free survival ( P < .001) and overall survival was worse as the number of involved lymph nodes increased ( P = .03). Limitations This was a retrospective review with a prolonged accrual time. Conclusion A high rate of nodal relapse occurred in patients with stage I disease who had undergone treatment of the primary site only. These patients may have benefited from sentinel lymph node biopsy and subsequent treatment of the nodal basin if micrometastatic disease was present, as the number of involved nodes impacted negatively on survival. Conversely, sentinel lymph node biopsy may be used to select those patients with clinical stage I disease who may avoid elective nodal treatment. Radiotherapy should have a routine role in the management of MCC.
Summary
Radiation oncologists are increasingly tasked with the management of elderly patients with non‐melanoma skin cancer, unsuitable for surgical intervention due to inoperable lesions and/or poor ...performance status. In this cohort, hypofractionated radiotherapy, delivered either daily, alternative daily or once weekly is highly effective. A systematic literature search was conducted of PUBMED, MEDLINE and EMBASE databases using the algorithm (‘radiotherapy’ OR ‘radiation therapy’ OR ‘brachytherapy’) AND (‘hypofraction’ OR ‘hypofractionated’ OR ‘hypofractionation’) AND (‘skin neoplasms’ OR ‘carcinoma’ OR ‘malignancy’) AND (‘skin’ OR ‘epidermis’ OR ‘epidermal’ OR ‘cutaneous’). Forty relevant publications (1983–2017) encompassing 12,337 irradiated lesions were retrieved. Studies documented a mean age of 71.73 years and male predilection (54.5%). Both external beam radiotherapy and brachytherapy were utilized. Tumour subtype was squamous cell carcinoma (23.5%), basal cell carcinoma (75.2%) or others (1.3%). Irradiated lesions were primary (or denovo) (92.6%), located on the head and neck (95.7%) and received definitive therapy (96.5%). Analysis demonstrated a mean weighted total radiotherapy dose (38.15 Gy), dose per fraction (7.95 Gy) and treatments per week (2.98). Despite significant heterogeneity in the study population, the radiotherapy delivered and follow‐up, local recurrence rate (crude or Kaplan–Meier analysis) did not exceed 7.9% in all but three of the 36 publications providing these data. Twenty‐nine publications documented local control exceeding 90%. There is a body of evidence documenting the efficacy of hypofractionated radiotherapy as an option that confers no obvious disadvantage in local control when compared to traditional more protracted radiotherapy schedules.
The global incidence of non‐melanoma skin cancer continues to increase as the global population ages with the highest incidence in the world occurring in Australian and New Zealand patients. There ...are numerous treatment options available for non‐melanoma skin cancer patients of which radiotherapy is an efficacious and versatile tissue preserving non‐surgical (or medical) option. In patients where excision may not be an option (medically/technically inoperable) or considered less ideal (e.g. cosmetic outcome), radiotherapy offers an excellent option. Following surgery, adjuvant radiotherapy in patients with unfavourable pathology can decrease the risk of recurrence and associated morbidity. Elderly and co‐morbid patients with poor performance status can benefit from short‐course hypofractionated radiotherapy in the setting where surgery is not an option. As with any modality, radiotherapy has advantages and disadvantages and it is therefore important for clinicians to appreciate these. We aim to present an update for clinicians that manage patients with non‐melanoma skin cancer on the role of radiotherapy.
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