Skin (Melanoma and Nonmelanoma Skin Cancers)

Radiation therapy is commonly used to treat nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) and melanoma. In general, definitive and postoperative radiation is mainly used in skin cancers located in high-risk locations (i.e., mask region of head and neck) and in immunocompromised patients (e.g., patients with organ transplants). Historically, there have been a wide range of doses utilized for NMSC, depending on tumor location, age/performance status of patients, desired cosmetic outcome, and presence of high-risk features such as PNI. Melanoma has been thought of as a more radioresistant tumor; however, this thinking is changing based on newer data. This chapter summarizes the use of hypofractionated RT for both NMSC and melanoma in the definitive setting.