Radiation therapy for cancers of the skin

Although radiation therapy has been used in the treatment of skin tumors for many years, there has recently been considerable progress in the field. Improvements in available equipment, as well as a greater understanding of the radiobiologic behavior of tumors, have changed the nature of practice and its outcome. These changes and their impact are described in this article. Now more than ever, the practicing dermatologist needs a working knowledge of radiotherapy to manage patients' tumors in an optimal fashion.