Radiotherapy - Physical forms of treatment

 Radiotherapy

Superficial radiation therapy (50–100 kV) can be used to treat biopsy-proven skin cancers in those over 70 years old or who are too frail to tolerate surgery (Fig. 24.10). 


The usual dose is 3000 cGy, given in fractions over 5–10 days. The scars from radiotherapy worsen with time (Fig. 24.11), in contrast to surgical scars which improve. Nowadays radiotherapy is seldom used for inflammatory conditions.

 

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