Pre-existing roentgen-ray dermatitis in patients with skin cancer

T with chronic roentgen-ray dermatitis is a phenomenon that has been observed for many years. However, the high incidence of pre-existing radiodermatitis in patients with skin cancer at the present time is not evidently appreciated. This communication is based upon a study of 105 consecutively admitted patients with skin cancer, twenty of whom had preexisting roentgen-ray dermatitis. In all instances the radiation had been administered for a benign condition or exposure was occupational. In addition the incidence of basalcell carcinoma in patients with roentgen-ray dermatitis has only recently been emphasized. Fourteen of these twenty patients developed basal-cell carcinomas, and two of the tumors were unusual, widely infiltrating, nonulcerated growths involving the upper lip and nose.