Summary

Radiodermatitis is a bad consequence of radiotherapy,
which may occur during irradiation (acute radiodermitis)
or after several months, sometimes even years after
radiotherapy, this being the case chronic radiodermatitis.
In the following, we will present the case of a patient
with several basal cell carcinomas, arising from a chronic
attenuated radiodermatitis, secondary to radiation
treatment received for a pilomycosis, at the age of 6 years.

Clinical case

A 59-year-old urban patient was hospitalized at
Craiova Dermatology Clinic for the presence of scalp
tumoral formations.
Dermatological examination: In the parietal region,
there are 2 erythematous plaques, infiltrated, slightly
elevated, with scally surface and dimensions of up to 1 cm.
In the occipital region there is a well-defined rounded
tumoral formation with a diameter of 2 cm, elevated 1 cm,
with normal skin color. In the temporal region, the patient
has a well-defined tumoral formation, 1/2 cm, slightly
elevated, of brown color.

Discussions

Radiodermatitis is a condition of the skin and
subcutaneous tissue caused by the local action of ionizing
radiation.
The incidence of chronic radiodermia is not fully
known, but it is estimated that about 95% of patients
undergoing radiotherapy will experience some form of
cutaneous involvement.
Pathogenesis is represented mainly by a disruption of
the balance between proinflammatory and profibrotic
cytokines.
Clinical manifestations of radiodermatitis include
telangiectasias, hypo and hyperpigmentations, cutaneous
atrophy and scars.
The treatment of chronic radiodermatitis and
radioinduced cutaneous carcinomas is complex, including
both surgical and non-surgical methods, the latter being
represented by pharmacological therapy, physiotherapy,
lasertherapy and so on.

Conclusions

Ionizing radiation treatment increases the risk of skin
cancers.
Exposure to ultraviolet potentiates the effect of
ionizing radiation, increasing the risk of skin carcinomas.
Radiotherapy used to treat childhood pilomycosis has
long-term undesirable effects, some patients developing
basal cell carcinomas on the scalp.
The time elapsed between performing radiotherapy and
basal cell carcinoma is approximately 50 years for the
majority of cases described the literature.