Radiotherapy in the treatment of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans

Am J Clin Oncol. 2005 Dec;28(6):537-9. doi: 10.1097/01.coc.0000171278.69291.64.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the role of postoperative radiotherapy (RT) for patients with dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP).

Methods and materials: Ten patients were treated with surgery and postoperative RT and had follow-up from 21 to 185 months. Nine patients had DFSP and 1 patient had a fibrosarcomatous component (DFSP-FS). No patient had gross disease at the time of RT.

Results: Nine patients with DFSP remained disease free after surgery and postoperative RT. The patient with DFSP-FS experienced a local recurrence after surgery, external beam RT, and a brachytherapy boost, and died with disease. There were no severe complications.

Conclusion: Postoperative RT may reduce the risk of local recurrence in patients with DFSP who have a high risk of residual disease after surgery.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brachytherapy
  • Dermatofibrosarcoma / pathology
  • Dermatofibrosarcoma / radiotherapy*
  • Dermatofibrosarcoma / surgery
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Dose Fractionation, Radiation
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / pathology
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / surgery
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / prevention & control
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / radiotherapy
  • Radiotherapy, Adjuvant*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Scalp
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology
  • Skin Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
  • Skin Neoplasms / surgery
  • Treatment Outcome