QHow effective is Superficial Radiation Therapy (SRT) for the treatment of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC)?

A
Richard Winkelmann, DO

Richard Winkelmann, DO

Director for Dermatology and Mohs Surgery
Optum Care
Los Angeles, CA

The gold standard for the treatment of NMSC has been Mohs surgery since the 1980s.1 However, In the last decade, SRT has re-emerged as an alternative to Mohs surgery for patients seeking to avoid the scarring and/or pain associated with the Mohs procedure. One company offering a SRT device reports a cure rate of 95% for the treatment of NMSC.2 A recent review reported eight clinical studies using SRT and found cure rates ranging from 91-99%.3 NMSC cure rates were lower with a higher chance for recurrence in thicker tumors and NMSC with more aggressive histological subtypes.3

My practice offers SRT to patients when discussing treatment options for NMSC. I find it most useful for thinner NMSC on non-hair-bearing areas like the nose and ears. However, due to the frequent office visits required to administer effective therapy and variable coverage from insurance companies, many patients elect for Mohs surgery unless they are very motivated to avoid another procedure. 

References:

  1. Nestor et al. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2019
  2. Sensus Healthcare. 2024
  3. Han et al. Dermatol Rev. 2022