The tolerance of re-irradiation of heavily irradiated human skin.

The clinical course of a group of 15 female patients treated with X-ray therapy for radiation-induced hypopharyngeal tumours is reviewed. Neither acute nor late skin reactions exceeded those expected in similar radical treatments of patients not previously irradiated. One patient appeared to have been cured by the treatment and four achieved two years' palliation. It is suggested that the tolerance of skin to re-irradiation following a long period may approach normal.