Basal cell carcinomas and cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas affect more than 3.6 million Americans annually and have potential for substantial long-term morbidity if untreated. The most common management options (electrodessication and curettage, excision, Mohs surgery, and topical agents) range in typical cost from approximately $200 to $2100.
Radiation therapy has long been used for selected skin cancers, typically reserved as second-line therapy for patients with surgical contraindications or as adjuvant therapy for high-risk lesions. Recently, newer electronic surface brachytherapy (EBT) devices have appeared in dermatology offices, marketed as a painless, nonsurgical option.