Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42338031›Full record

ArticleThe Journal of dermatology2026

Therapeutic Effectiveness of Radiotherapy for Lymph Node Metastases of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Single-Center Retrospective Analysis.

Tatsuhiko Mori, Mikio Otsuka, Toshiyuki Yamamoto

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The Journal of dermatology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Tatsuhiko MoriDepartment of Dermatology, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8771-4206
Mikio OtsukaDepartment of Dermatology, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.
Toshiyuki YamamotoDepartment of Dermatology, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8390-2573

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) frequently affects older adults, and regional lymph node (LN) metastasis is associated with poor prognosis. Lymph node dissection (LND) is the standard treatment for LN metastasis; however, radiotherapy (RT) may represent an alternative option when surgery is not feasible. Although the effectiveness of RT for primary cSCC is well established, its effectiveness for LN metastases remains insufficiently evaluated. We conducted a single-center retrospective analysis of patients with cSCC and LN metastases treated between 2007 and 2024. Two cohorts were examined: (1) the RT cohort, comprising 21 patients treated with RT, in which objective response rate (ORR) and local progression-free survival (LPFS) were assessed; and (2) the LND versus RT cohort, comprising 24 patients with initial regional LN metastases treated with either LND or RT, in which LPFS, distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), and disease-specific survival (DSS) were evaluated. In the RT cohort, ORR was 81% (complete response 52%, partial response 29%), and the median LPFS was 40.0 months. Patients with a sum of the diameters of the target lymph node (SDLN) of < 40 mm demonstrated significantly better local control than those with an SDLN of ≥ 40 mm (median LPFS, 40.0 vs. 6.6 months; p = 0.029). In the LND versus RT cohort, no significant differences were observed between the LND and RT groups in LPFS, DMFS, or DSS. In exploratory multivariable analyses, a larger SDLN was consistently associated with poorer outcomes, whereas other covariates showed inconsistent associations and wide confidence intervals, reflecting model instability due to the limited sample size. These findings indicate that RT provides favorable local control of LN metastases of cSCC, particularly in smaller LN metastasis, and demonstrates survival outcomes comparable to those of LND. RT may be considered a reasonable alternative to surgery in selected patients who are ineligible for LND.

Indexed as

Cutaneous Squamous Cell CarcinomaLymphatic MetastasisSkin NeoplasmsAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleHumansLymph Node ExcisionLymph NodesMaleMiddle AgedProgression-Free SurvivalRetrospective StudiesTreatment Outcomecutaneous squamous cell carcinomalymph node dissectionlymph node metastasisradiotherapysurvival analysis

Identifiers

PMID42338031
PMCPMC13555116

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.