Skin Reactions and Quality of Life after X-Ray Therapy of Basal Cell Carcinoma

Background . Advanced basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is often treated by surgery or X-ray therapy. The consequences of X-ray therapy on the patients' health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL) have so far not been described. Objectives . To quantify quality of life in BCC patients before and after X-ray therapy compared with matched healthy controls. Materials . Twenty-five patients (mean age 69) with BCC completed the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) before and two weeks and three months after X-ray therapy and their results were compared with the DLQI scores for 25 matched controls. Results . Compared to the healthy controls the patients' DLQI score was significantly higher before and 2 weeks after X-ray therapy ( P = 0.005; P = 0.000). The patients' DLQI score decreased significantly from baseline to three months after X-ray therapy ( P = 0.024), when it became similar to that of the healthy controls ( P = 0.819). Three months after X-ray therapy eight patients had no skin reactions, 11 had slight atrophy, pigmentation change, and/or some hair loss, four had patch atrophy, moderate telangiectasia, and/or total hair loss. Conclusions . BCC has a negative effect on patients' quality of life. The study shows that HRQOL normalises shortly after X-ray therapy, despite minor skin manifestations.