Possibility of treating basal cell carcinomas of nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome with superficial x-ray therapy.

Background: The nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS), also known as Gorlin-Goltz syndrome, is a rare dermatological disease inherited according to an autosomal dominant pattern. From the dermatological point of view, the most evident characteristic of the syndrome is the early onset of multiple basal cell carcinomas (BCCs). An ideal treatment of BCCs of the NBCCS does not exist.

Objective: To evaluate if in particular cases (e.g. poor general health conditions, previous multiple surgical excisions) radiotherapy may be useful, under the condition that it does not promote the onset of new BCCs and that the healing of irradiated lesions is normal.

Methods: A study on 3 patients with 17 BCCs treated with superficial radiotherapy is here reported.

Results: Complete remission without carcinogenic effects was reached in all treated lesions, with a mean follow-up of 30.35 months.

Conclusion: In our opinion, such results suggest the possibility of a cautious application of superficial radiotherapy in selected cases of NBCCS.