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Overview


Skin cancer

Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in the world.

One in every three cases of cancer is a type of skin cancer.1 Globally, there are between 2 and 3 million cases of skin cancer diagnosed every year.1 The majority of cases are basal cell (BCC) or squamous cell carcinomas  (SCC) – sometimes referred to as ‘non-melanoma’ skin cancer.

Skin cancer is one of the most readily identifiable types of cancer and a diagnosis is usually made at an early stage. Modern treatment techniques mean that more than 9 out of 10 people with BCC and SCC skin cancer can be completely cured.2

Current treatment goals for skin cancer are to:

  • Achieve cancer cure (elimination of skin cancer tissue).
  • Avoid damage to surrounding tissues and organs and preserve the natural appearance and function of the skin.


Brachytherapy – an effective treatment for skin cancer

A high proportion of skin cancers occur on sun-exposed sites, such as the head or face.

Skin cancers can often be successfully treated by the surgical removal of the cancerous tumor. However, surgery on the nose, ears, eyelids or lips may cause disfigurement or require reconstructive surgery under a general anesthetic to maintain the natural appearance.

Brachytherapy, high-precision, targeted radiotherapy, provides:

  • An effective alternative treatment for BCC and SCC skin cancer and avoids the need for reconstructive surgery.
  • Advantages over surgery for patients with a large number of lesions, elderly patients, or patients who are otherwise inoperable.3
  • Advantages over external beam radiotherapy as it requires shorter treatment times.

The treatment of skin cancer with brachytherapy was one of the first medical applications of radioactivity, dating back to the early 1900s. Decades of experience, combined with the latest state-of-the-art equipment and techniques make brachytherapy a highly effective treatment, which also minimizes the risk of complications.


Indications

High dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy is indicated for the treatment of BCC or SCC skin cancers.

  • Definitive radiotherapy for localized BCC or SCC carcinomas (T1–T2 N0 tumors).4
  • ‘Boost’ therapy on top of EBRT for larger skin cancers (T2–T3 or Tx N1 tumors).4
  • Note: melanomas often do not respond well to radiotherapy techniques and so brachytherapy is not indicated for their treatment. Brachytherapy is also not indicated for BCC or SCC cancers invading bony structures.4


Application

A range of specially designed applicators are available.

The applicators facilitate close contact between the brachytherapy radiation source and the skin. This helps ensure conformity of the radiation dose to the tumor to provide excellent cosmetic results and clinical efficacy.

brachytherapy skin applicatorbrachytherapy skin mat applicator



Key points

Brachytherapy for the treatment of skin cancer offers you:

  • A clinically effective treatment option for localized BCC or SCC skin cancers.4
  • Excellent cosmesis with an excellent safety profile.3,5,6
  • Treatment delivered in short sessions on an outpatient basis.
  • Shorter overall treatment times than EBRT and each fraction (session) of treatment can be completed in a matter of hours.
  • Patients are able to return home almost immediately after the procedure.3,5
  • Convenience for both patients and healthcare providers.
  • Cost-effective treatment.5

“The proposed technique [brachytherapy] should be considered a new clinical treatment, and an alternative to both surgical and medical treatments.

Its main advantage lies in the usefulness in all types of basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma, without restriction by site, dimension, clinical or histological type, or the patient’s clinical situation.”

Sedda et al, 20083


References
  1. World Health Organization. Available at: http://www.who.int/uv/faq/skincancer/en/index1.html. Accessed 4 March 2010.
  2. Macmillan Cancer Support. Available at: http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Cancertypes/Skin/Treatingskincancer/Treatmentoverview.aspx. Accessed 4 March 2010.
  3. Sedda AF, Rossi G, Cipriani C, et al. Clin Exp Dermatol 2008;33(6):745–9.
  4. Van Limbergen E & Mazeron, J-J. 28;573–584 In: The GEC ESTRO Handbook of Brachytherapy. Gerbaulet A, Pötter R, Mazeron J-J, Meertens H and van Limbergen E (Eds). Leuven, Belgium, ACCO. 2005.
  5. Guix B, Finestres F, Tello J, et al. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2000;47(1):95–102.
  6. Rio E, Bardet E, Ferron C, et al. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2005;63(3):753–57.
Page last updated on 14 January 2011.

Brachytherapy

and skin cancer

 

Cancer types



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