Radiation Therapy of Nonmalignant Skin Disorders

While the modern use and indication for radiotherapy (RT) of malignant skin disorders is a well-established strategy which includes the treatment of basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma, Merkel cell tumors Kaposi’s sarcoma, and cutaneous lymphomas (all, see previous chapters of this book), the use of ionizing radiation for nonmalignant or benign skin disorders is less recognized, is not represented in actual interdisciplinary treatment guidelines, and has clearly decreased as many new and better systemic and local noninvasive and invasive treatment options have become available in the past two decades. Moreover, in many dermatological departments throughout the world, the actual training and knowledge of medical specialists about the possible implementation of ionizing radiation to treat nonmalignant skin disorders has slowly faded away and is dismissed in modern dermatology textbooks. Local surgical methods and/or systemic medication options dominate the actually recommended treatment strategies for most nonmalignant skin disorders.