Skin cancer of the head--treatment by radiotherapy.

A retrospective review of 498 patients with 584 skin cancers occurring on the head and seen between 1971 and 1976 is reported. All were treated by radiotherapy. There were 433 basal cell and 151 squamous cell carcinomas for a ratio of 2.9:1. The median age for developing skin cancer was 69 (22-92) years and there was a male to female advantage of approximately 1.5:1. Overall, the primary tumor was controlled at three years in 553 instances (94.7%). None of the basal cell carcinomas metastasized. Cervical node metastases developed in 12 patients (8%) with squamous cell carcinoma. Overall there were four (0.8%) tumor related deaths.