THE ROLE OF BRACHYTHERAPY IN THE TREATMENT OF NON-MELANOMA SKIN CANCERS: A NARRATIVE REVIEW

Natalia Bogumiłło; Krzysztof Mirkowski; Dawid Żuraw; Magdalena Kijowska; Karolina Klusek; Katarzyna Kulszo; Martyna Rynkowska; Magda Kowaleczko; Maciej Wiśniecki; Bartłomiej Baszun

doi:10.31435/ijitss.3(51).2026.6196

Authors

Natalia Bogumiłło University Clinical Hospital No. 1, Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7567-2242
Krzysztof Mirkowski University Clinical Hospital No. 1, Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0009-6976-0810
Dawid Żuraw University Clinical Hospital No. 1, Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0004-3160-5659
Magdalena Kijowska Medical University of Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0004-1086-7086
Karolina Klusek Medical University of Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0004-7006-0188
Katarzyna Kulszo Stefan Cardinal Wyszyński Provincial Specialist Hospital SPZOZ in Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8573-9714
Martyna Rynkowska Stefan Cardinal Wyszyński Provincial Specialist Hospital SPZOZ in Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0003-8976-2318
Magda Kowaleczko University Clinical Hospital No. 1, Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6055-0141
Maciej Wiśniecki Stefan Cardinal Wyszyński Provincial Specialist Hospital SPZOZ in Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1152-2835
Bartłomiej Baszun University Clinical Hospital No. 1, Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0003-1694-4268

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.3(51).2026.6196

Keywords:

Brachytherapy, Skin Cancer, Basal Cell Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Radiotherapy, Skin Cancer Treatment

Abstract

Background. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are the two most frequent malignancies worldwide, and their incidence continues to rise with the ageing of the population. Although surgical excision remains the gold standard, radiotherapy — including brachytherapy — constitutes a valuable alternative in selected clinical situations, particularly in elderly patients and in tumours located in cosmetically or functionally sensitive areas.

Aim. This narrative review aims to define the role of brachytherapy in the treatment of non-melanoma skin cancers, with emphasis on currently used techniques (surface, contact, mould-based, and interstitial methods, including Leipzig- and Valencia-type applicators and electronic brachytherapy), as well as on indications, patient selection, efficacy, and safety profile.

Methods. The PubMed/MEDLINE and Google Scholar databases were searched for English-language publications, and 44 articles published between 2011 and 2025 were included and analysed descriptively.

Conclusions. The available literature indicates that brachytherapy is an effective treatment strategy for selected non-melanoma skin cancers, providing high local control rates (reported between 71% and 99%), good cosmetic outcomes, and low toxicity. High dose conformity and effective sparing of healthy tissue make brachytherapy a valuable component of multidisciplinary skin cancer care.

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