Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma treated with electron beam irradiation in Indian patients

• Published in: International journal of dermatology Vol. 40; no. 4; pp. 295 - 297
• Main Authors: Parida, Dillip K., Verma, Kaushal K., Chander, Subhash, Joshi, R. C., Rath, Goura K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01.04.2001; Blackwell Science; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alopecia - etiology; Biological and medical sciences; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; Fatigue - etiology; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; Humans; India; Leukemias. Malignant lymphomas. Malignant reticulosis. Myelofibrosis; Leukocyte Count; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous - pathology; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous - radiotherapy; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Radiotherapy - adverse effects; Radiotherapy Dosage; Skin - pathology; Skin - radiation effects; Skin Diseases - etiology; Skin Neoplasms - pathology; Skin Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Tropical medicine; Asia; India; Human; Skin disease; Cutaneous hematologic disease; Treatment; Lymphoproliferative syndrome; T-Lymphocyte; Electron beam; Irradiation; Malignant hemopathy; Skin; Lymphoma
• ISSN: 0011-9059; 1365-4632
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-4362.2001.01144.x

Background  Cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma (CTCL) is a rare occurrence in India. Total skin electron irradiation (TSEI) is a well‐accepted therapeutic modality for the treatment of CTCL throughout the world. The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze the treatment outcome of TSEI in Indian patients with CTCL and to determine the different parameters affecting the disease‐free survival in these patients. Methods  Fourteen male patients between 27 and 82 years of age with CTCL (duration of disease, 4 months to 2 years) were treated with TSEI between 1985 and 1998. Seven patients had early stage disease, while the other seven had advanced disease. Two patients had lymph node involvement at the time of presentation. The TSEI was performed according to the Stanford technique delivering a total dose in the range 8–36 Gy. Results  Of the 14 patients, 10 showed complete remission following TSEI. The total follow‐up period was 4–110 months (median, 52 months). Five patients were disease free at the end of 5 years. Two patients died due to rapid progression of the disease, while the cutaneous lesions relapsed in three patients after 2–27 months and one patient developed visceral metastasis. Conclusions  TSEI was an effective therapeutic modality for the treatment of CTCL in this group of patients, both as a curative and palliative measure, although the long‐term prognosis is poor.