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Skin Cancer

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Skin Care in Radiation Oncology

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Abstract

Radiation treatment for skin cancers differs from other types of radiation treatment, because in the case of skin cancers, the skin itself is part of the target and a skin reaction is anticipated and desired. The level of expected reaction can be reasonably estimated in advance by an experienced clinician depending on the technique, dose, and location of treatment.

In general, reactions due to skin cancer irradiation tend to be moderate, because the actual area of targeted skin in the vast majority of cases is usually not large. Long-term complications identified in the literature include alopecia, pigmentation change, telangiectasia, fibrosis/scar, atrophy/contraction, epiphora, and, rarely, soft tissue or cartilage necrosis, bone necrosis, cataracts, dry eye, conjunctival scarring, and eyelid deformity. Rates of severe late complications are generally very low but may be highest for skin cancer treatments on the pinna.

Extent of skin reactions is largely determined by the total dose and fractionation scheme that are chosen, as well as whether dosimetric or physical shielding is used to protect adjacent nontargeted skin. Other factors affecting acute skin toxicity are prior UV damage, prior surgery and/or reconstruction, and the use of systemic agents.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, Box 1708, 1600 Divisadero Street, Suite H1031, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA

    Sue S. Yom MD, PhD

  2. Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, Box 0316, 1701 Divisadero Street, San Francisco, CA, 94115, USA

    Sarah Arron MD, PhD

Authors
  1. Sue S. Yom MD, PhD
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  2. Sarah Arron MD, PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sue S. Yom MD, PhD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA

    Barbara Fowble

  2. Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA

    Sue S. Yom

  3. Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA

    Florence Yuen

  4. Department of Dermatology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA

    Sarah Arron

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© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

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Yom, S.S., Arron, S. (2016). Skin Cancer. In: Fowble, B., Yom, S., Yuen, F., Arron, S. (eds) Skin Care in Radiation Oncology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31460-0_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31460-0_14

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-31458-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-31460-0

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