Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39572513›Full record

ReviewOncology and therapy2025

The State of the Art of Image Guided Superficial Radiation Therapy Treatment of Non-melanoma Skin Cancer in Outpatient Dermatology Clinics in the United States and Review of the Literature.

Peyton M Harris, Aaron S Farberg, Janine Hopkins, Liqiao Ma, Donna Serure, Blake Robbins, Candace Osborne, Luis Bravo, Pauline Lausser, Amanda Boatner

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Oncology and therapy, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Peyton M HarrisTexas A&M College of Medicine, Dallas, TX, USA. peyton.harris@tamu.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0008-0563-9782
Aaron S FarbergTexas A&M College of Medicine, Dallas, TX, USA.
Janine HopkinsHopkins Dermatology, Monroe, LA, USA.
Liqiao MaTru-Skin Dermatology, Austin, TX, USA.
Donna SerureLaserderm Dermatology, Smithtown, NY, USA.
Blake RobbinsTru-Skin Dermatology, Austin, TX, USA.
Candace OsborneTru-Skin Dermatology, Hallettsville, TX, USA.
Luis BravoUniversity of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Pauline LausserHeights Dermatology, Rosenberg, TX, USA.
Amanda BoatnerSkinCure Oncology, Burr Ridge, IL, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionImage guided superficial radiation therapy (IGSRT) is a novel technology which combines traditional superficial radiation therapy (SRT) with high resolution dermal ultrasound (HRDUS) to treat non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC). Since development, IGSRT use has expanded dramatically in outpatient clinics. We review the IGSRT literature and state-of-the-art operating principles in US dermatologic practices.

methodsA literature search of electronic databases (Medline, Pubmed, Cochrane Library, Science Direct) combined with various authors' published and unpublished documents, procedures, and clinical experience with IGSRT were synthesized for this paper.

resultsStudies have demonstrated IGSRT consistently delivers high cure rates (> 99%) with low complications for early stage (stage 0, I, or II) squamous cell and basal cell carcinomas. Control rates are statistically superior to non-image guided SRT and external beam radiation (XRT) as well as Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS). This improvement is attributed to in vivo dermal tumor visualization via HRDUS and using an interdisciplinary approach to deliver care. IGSRT use in the dermatologic clinic for early stage NMSCs has become common practice and continues to expand.

conclusionWhile the safety and cosmetic benefits of SRT/XRT have been long documented, IGSRT represents a significant leap forward in efficacy (statistically significant) by adding in vivo dermal tumor imaging. Results rival and appear on one study to surpass tumor control obtained with MMS. A contributing factor to the success may be the availability and use of an interdisciplinary team approach that includes dermatologists, radiation therapists, radiation oncologists, and medical physicists. The high tumor control rates, minimal side effects, favorable cosmesis, and ability to treat multiple lesions per session using IGSRT are establishing this modality as a standard first-line therapy for early stage NMSCs in dermatology clinics. IGSRT may represent the most effective option for the non-surgical treatment of early stage NMSC to date.

Indexed as

Basal cell carcinomaImage guided superficial radiation therapyMohs micrographic surgeryNon-melanoma skin cancerSquamous cell carcinoma

Identifiers

PMID39572513
PMCPMC11880453

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.