%0 Journal Article
%T Combined cetuximab and volumetric modulated arc-radiotherapy in advanced recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the scalp
%A Uwe Wollina
%A Andreas Schreiber
%A Knut Merla
%A Gunter Haroske
%J Dermatology Reports
%D 2011
%I PAGEPress Publications
%R 10.4081/dr.2011.e57
%X A 77-year-old male patient presented with an ulcerated exophytic tumor (T2, N0, M0) with three macroscopically visible satellite metastases in the right temporo-occipital region. Mohs surgery could not control the disease due to lymphangiosis carcinomatosa and perineural infiltration, and recurrence of satellite skin metastases. Re-staging demonstrated a T2, N1, M0 profile (stage III, AJCC). Chemotherapy was limited by the patient¡¯s co-morbidities. Therefore, we used targeted therapy with monoclonal anti-epidermal growth factor receptor antibody cetuximab in combination with volumetric modulated arc- radiotherapy (VMAT). Cetuximab was well tolerated except for the loading dose when the patient developed fever chills. To verify the correct application of VMAT, it was applied to a 3-dimensional measuring phantom prior to the patient¡¯s first treatment session. To minimize these tolerances, patient set-up was checked and corrected by orthogonal fluoroscopic images recorded daily by the on-board imager used in our Varian accelerator. The average daily beam time was 6 min (6 arcs, 767 monitor units); the total treatment time including patient set-up and set-up correction was less than 20 min. Combined therapy was well tolerated and complete remission was achieved.
%K Advanced squamous cell carcinoma
%K cetuximab
%K volumetric modulated arc-therapy.
%U http://www.pagepress.org/journals/index.php/dr/article/view/3831