title: The use of brachytherapy in the treatment of nonmelanoma skin cancer: a review.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois; Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois; Department of Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois. Electronic address: m-alam@northwestern.edu.
authors.forename: Murad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alam
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Shivani
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nanda
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Bharat B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Mittal
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Natalie A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois; Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois; Department of Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yoo
mesh_terms: D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018579:Patient Selection; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome