The use of brachytherapy in the treatment of nonmelanoma skin cancer: A review

Nonmelanoma skin cancers can be treated by various modalities, including electrodessication and curettage, excisional techniques, and radiation. In selected cases, radiation may be preferable to surgery. When radiation is an option, brachytherapy, a form of radiation therapy that places the radiatio...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 2011-08, Vol.65 (2), p.377-388
Main Authors: Alam, Murad, MD, MSCI, Nanda, Shivani, BS, Mittal, Bharat B., MD, Kim, Natalie A., BA, Yoo, Simon, MD
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
basal cell carcinoma
Biological and medical sciences
brachytherapy
Brachytherapy - adverse effects
Brachytherapy - methods
Carcinoma, Basal Cell - mortality
Carcinoma, Basal Cell - pathology
Carcinoma, Basal Cell - radiotherapy
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - mortality
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - pathology
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - radiotherapy
Dermatology
Disease-Free Survival
Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
interstitial brachytherapy
Male
Medical sciences
nonmelanoma skin cancer
Patient Selection
Radiation Injuries - prevention & control
Radiotherapy Dosage
Risk Assessment
Skin Neoplasms - mortality
Skin Neoplasms - pathology
Skin Neoplasms - radiotherapy
squamous cell carcinoma
surface-mold brachytherapy
Survival Analysis
Treatment Outcome
Tumors of the skin and soft tissue. Premalignant lesions
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Summary:Nonmelanoma skin cancers can be treated by various modalities, including electrodessication and curettage, excisional techniques, and radiation. In selected cases, radiation may be preferable to surgery. When radiation is an option, brachytherapy, a form of radiation therapy that places the radiation source close to the area to be treated, may have advantages relative to conventional external beam radiation in particular patients. After brachytherapy, recurrence rates for nonmelanoma skin cancers are low, especially for small, superficial lesions, with good to excellent functional and cosmetic results. This article reviews the indications, efficacy, and adverse effects of brachytherapy in the treatment of nonmelanoma skin cancers.
ISSN:0190-9622
1097-6787
DOI:10.1016/j.jaad.2010.03.027