Radiation therapy

For solitary lesions or lesions of limited extent, modest doses of radiation applied with a limited margin provide excellent control of disease in the treated area. Usually, superficial radiation beams, such as electron beams, are used. Some authors believe disease recurrence in adjacent untreated skin is common if only involved-field radiation therapy is used and claim better cure rates when extended-field radiation therapy is used.[1]

For low-voltage (100 kv) photon radiation therapy, 8 Gy to 10 Gy is given as a single dose or 15 Gy to 20 Gy is given over 1 week because solitary lesions control nearly 100% of local disease, but recurrence in adjacent areas is common.

For electron-beam radiation therapy (EBRT), 4 Gy is given once weekly for 6 to 8 consecutive weeks with a 4-MeV to 6-MeV electron beam. Ports should include the entire skin surface 15 cm above the lesion.