Short-term radiotherapy regimens for patients with locally or regionally advanced head and neck nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) appear feasible and effective, particularly in elderly patients or those that cannot tolerate the length of standard regimens, according to a recent study. A retrospective review of patients with head and neck NMSC was conducted. Radiotherapy dose per fraction regimens included ≤200, 240–250, 300–400, and 500–600 cGy. Demographics, tumor characteristics, local control (LC), regional control (RC), and survival outcomes were analyzed. Researchers found:

• Of the 90 patients with 140 disease sites, 76.6% were squamous cell carcinoma, 15.5% were basal cell carcinoma, and 7.7% were other histologies.
• The mean age at diagnosis was 72.1 years.
• The most common location was preauricular (20.0%), followed by temple, scalp, cheek, and forehead.
• The overall LC and RC rates were 88.8% and 88.8%, respectively. by patients, and 92.8% and 86.4%, respectively, by treatment sites.
• Age, primary tumor location, T classification, N classification, overall stage, perineural invasion, comorbid disease, skull base invasion, and radiotherapy subgroup were significantly associated with disease-free and overall survival.