PURPOSE:

To determine the role of total skin electron beam therapy (TSEBT) and the prognosis of patients with mycosis fungoides.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

From 1978 to 1996, 66 consecutive patients with mycosis fungoides received 30 Gy TSEBT delivered in 12 fractions over 40 days as treatment of their relapsed after topical or/and systemic therapy. All patients were staged as follows: stage A, superficial lesions covering less than 50% of the body surface; stage B, superficial lesions covering more than 50% of the body surface; Stage C. tumors involving the skin, lymph nodes and/or visceral organs.

RESULTS:

The median age was 50 years (ranging from 13-78 years). There were 39 males and 27 females. The minimum follow-up was 12 months (range 12-192 months). There were 24 (36%) stage A patients, 22 (33%) stage B patients, and 20 (30%) stage C patients. The overall survival at 5 years for our series was as follows: 93% for stage A; 79% for stage B, and 44% for stage C disease (P = 0.002). For the entire cohort, the complete remission rate was 65%, the progression-free survival (PFS) at 5 years and 10 years was 30 and 18% respectively. For the group A, PFS was 62% at 5 years and 46% at 10 years; for group B, PFS was 19% at 5 years.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study suggests that TSEBT gives good results for relapsed stage A disease. Total skin electron beam therapy combined with local fields irradiation or other local treatment (puvatherapy or topical nitrogen mustard) might further improve permanent complete response for stage B patients. The most advanced stages of mycosis fungoides are not controlled by TSEBT, but the radiation therapy offers good palliation results.