{"entity":{"id":"superficial-radiotherapy","kind":"technology","name":"Superficial and orthovoltage radiotherapy for skin cancer","aka":[],"tldr":"Low-energy X-rays that stop within a few millimetres, used to cure basal and squamous cell skin cancers where surgery would scar or is not wanted.","summary":"Superficial (50 to 150 kV) and orthovoltage (150 to 300 kV) X-ray units were the first radiotherapy machines and are still the right tool for many skin cancers of the face, ears and lower legs, with cure rates comparable to surgery for small basal and squamous cell carcinomas and better cosmetic results in some sites. Electronic brachytherapy devices and electron beams cover the same ground. They are also used for keloids and benign conditions.","status":"established","asOf":"2026-09-17","links":[{"label":"Wikipedia","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthovoltage_X-rays"}],"tags":["radiation-wave1"],"related":[],"cancers":["basal-cell-carcinoma","cutaneous-scc","skin-cancer"],"sections":["radiation"],"technologies":["imrt-igrt"],"targets":[],"drugs":[],"companies":[],"institutions":[],"pathways":[],"terms":[],"trials":[],"people":[],"bottlenecks":[],"keyPapers":[],"journals":[],"dependsOn":[],"notes":[],"principle":"Low-energy photons deposit their dose at the skin surface and fall off rapidly with depth, treating the lesion with little dose to underlying tissue.","strengths":["Non-invasive cure for skin cancers","Good cosmesis in the face","Cheap, simple machines"],"limitations":["Multiple visits","Late skin changes over years","Less suitable in young patients"],"since":1900},"route":"/technologies/superficial-radiotherapy/","neighbours":{"cancer":[{"id":"advanced-cutaneous-scc","kind":"cancer","name":"Advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma","route":"/cancers/advanced-cutaneous-scc/"},{"id":"basal-cell-carcinoma","kind":"cancer","name":"Basal cell carcinoma","route":"/cancers/basal-cell-carcinoma/"},{"id":"cutaneous-scc","kind":"cancer","name":"Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma","route":"/cancers/cutaneous-scc/"},{"id":"cutaneous-t-cell-lymphoma","kind":"cancer","name":"Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (mycosis fungoides and Sezary syndrome)","route":"/cancers/cutaneous-t-cell-lymphoma/"},{"id":"locally-advanced-bcc","kind":"cancer","name":"Locally advanced and metastatic basal cell carcinoma","route":"/cancers/locally-advanced-bcc/"},{"id":"skin-cancer","kind":"cancer","name":"Skin cancer (all types)","route":"/cancers/skin-cancer/"}],"section":[{"id":"radiation","kind":"section","name":"Radiation Therapy","route":"/fronts/radiation/"}],"technology":[{"id":"confocal-oct-skin-imaging","kind":"technology","name":"Confocal microscopy and optical coherence tomography for skin (VivaScope, VivoSight, deepLive)","route":"/technologies/confocal-oct-skin-imaging/"},{"id":"electrochemotherapy-devices","kind":"technology","name":"Electrochemotherapy devices (Cliniporator)","route":"/technologies/electrochemotherapy-devices/"},{"id":"electron-beam-therapy-systems","kind":"technology","name":"Electron beam therapy systems (linac electrons, total skin electron units, mobile electron IORT)","route":"/technologies/electron-beam-therapy-systems/"},{"id":"imrt-igrt","kind":"technology","name":"IMRT / IGRT (modern external beam)","route":"/technologies/imrt-igrt/"},{"id":"photodynamic-therapy-lasers","kind":"technology","name":"Photodynamic therapy lasers and light sources","route":"/technologies/photodynamic-therapy-lasers/"}]}}