A follow-up study of superficial radiotherapy for benign dermatoses: recommendations for the use of X-rays in dermatology

One hundred out of 136 patients who had received either 1600 rad or more to the face, 1500 rad or more to the hands, 1600 rad or more to the finger nails, or 1600 rad or more to the feet for benign dermatoses during the years 1930 to 1964 were examined. Four patients had developed basal cell carcinomata of the face and one had developed a squamous cell carcinoma of the hands. Atrophy of the face and keratoses and telangiectasia of the hands occurred more frequently than in controls. It is concluded that superficial radiotherapy is a safe procedure for the treatment of benign dermatoses provided that no more than 1200 rad is given in fractionated doses to any area of skin over a lifetime. Recommendations are put forward to ensure that damage does not result from radiation.