Abstract
Basal cell carcinomas are common skin cancers. Chronic sun exposure is considered to be the main etiologic factor for their development, but it does not explain all observed lesions. Acute, short and chronic exposure to low dose of radiation therapy has been reported as a possible causative factor. A series of 32 patients with 48 basal cell carcinomas is presented; these tumours developed in previously irradiated areas of the body. All were treated by surgery alone. Clinical presentation was classical—a slowly-growing chronic ulceration. None of the patients were chronically exposed to chemical agents. In this series, only 12 patients were initially irradiated for benign disease. This underlines the necessity to have regular skin screening after external irradiation.
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Vandeweyer, E., Renard, N. Basal cell carcinoma in previously irradiated areas. Eur J Plast Surg 27, 332–334 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00238-004-0708-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00238-004-0708-9