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Brachytherapy

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Radiation Therapy for Skin Cancer

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Abstract

Brachytherapy involves placement of radioactive sources directly onto or into target tissues. The origins of brachytherapy are dermatological and date back to the discovery of radium. Although brachytherapy fell out of favor as a modality for the treatment of skin lesions by the mid-1940s, it still serves as an important alternative for certain nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) in selected patients. When indicated, treatment of NMSCs with brachytherapy produces low recurrence rates and good functional and cosmetic results, especially for small, superficial lesions. This chapter reviews the historical use of brachytherapy in dermatology, technical aspects of administration, and current use of brachytherapy in the treatment of NMSCs, including efficacy, cosmesis, and adverse effects.

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Abbreviations

BCC:

Basal cell carcinoma

Cs:

Cesium

HDR:

High-dose rate

I:

Iodine

Ir:

Iridium

LDR:

Low-dose rate

MDR:

Medium-dose rate

NMSC:

Nonmelanoma skin cancer

SCC:

Squamous cell carcinoma

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL, USA

    Rosalind Sandell BA

  2. Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA

    Murad Alam MD, MSCI

Authors
  1. Rosalind Sandell BA
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  2. Murad Alam MD, MSCI
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Murad Alam MD, MSCI .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Florida State University College of Medi, Division of Dermatology, Dermatology Associates of Tallahassee, Riggins Road 1707, Tallahassee, 32308, Florida, USA

    Armand B. Cognetta Jr.

  2. College of Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Florida, 2000 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, 32610, Florida, USA

    William M. Mendenhall

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Sandell, R., Alam, M. (2013). Brachytherapy. In: Cognetta Jr., A., Mendenhall, W. (eds) Radiation Therapy for Skin Cancer. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6986-5_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6986-5_13

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  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-6985-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-6986-5

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