Clinical-epidemiological characterization of patients with non-melanoma skin cancer treated with superficial radiotherapy

Abstract

Introduction: Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma collectively called non-melanoma skin cancer, are the most common malignant tumors worldwide. Objective: To identify the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with non-melanoma skin cancer treated with superficial radiotherapy. Methods: A descriptive, longitudinal and retrospective study was carried out at the "Conrado Benítez García" Cancer Hospital in Santiago de Cuba in the period from October 2018 to January 2021. The universe consisted of all patients (n=147). with non-melanoma skin cancer with confirmed clinical and histological diagnosis and treated with superficial radiotherapy, older than 31 years and up to 95 years of age. The data collected from the medical records were entered into a database in the statistical program SPSS version 25 for Windows, the descriptive statistics of frequency distribution and absolute numbers were used. Results: according to age groups, the most affected was 75 - 85 years, the male sex, white skin color, urban origin and the largest number of affected patients belonged to the retired sector. Most of the patients received surgical treatment prior to radiant treatment, and the most used treatment scheme was D (320 cGy/ 17 frac / 2 times a week. Conclusions: Histological type squamous cell carcinoma had the highest incidence, as well as head and neck location was the most frequent.