Contact radiotherapy of cutaneous hemangiomas: therapeutic effects and radiation sequelae in 818 patients.

The paper presents statistical data on the therapeutic effects and radiation sequelae following Chaoul contact therapy of 818 cutaneous hemangiomas treated between 1938 and 1952. 73.3% of all irradiated hemangiomas showed initial improvement but complete involution with an excellent cosmetic result was observed in only 50% of lesions 5 years after treatment. During the same period of time, more than one-third of all patients developed mild to moderate cutaneous radiation sequelae (hyper- or hypopigmentation and telangiectases, rarely atrophy). The high incidence of late radiation effects is probably relation to the high total doses administered in this series of patients, the very short intervals between treatments and the age of the patients. Other radiation radiation hazards are also discussed. Since large studies have proven conclusively that spontaneous involution occurs in 95% of hemangiomas after several years, indications for radiotherapy of hemangiomas are extremely limited.