Illustration of targeted radiation therapy treating skin cancer on the ear and nose.

Skin Cancer Treatment: Is Brachytherapy the Conformal Choice for Nose and Ear?

Theo Raines in Health & Wellness September 2025 • 5 min read.

"Discover how CT-based surface mould brachytherapy offers a highly targeted approach to treating non-melanoma skin cancers, potentially outperforming traditional radiation methods."

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer, and its incidence is rising. While surgery is often the first line of treatment, radiation therapy (RT) plays a crucial role, especially when surgery isn't an option or achieving optimal cosmetic results is a concern. However, traditional external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) can be challenging for tumors in complex locations like the nose and ear due to setup difficulties and potential for damage to surrounding tissues.

Brachytherapy (BT), a type of RT where radioactive sources are placed directly in or near the tumor, offers a potential solution. Because the radiation dose falls off rapidly, BT can precisely target the cancer while minimizing exposure to nearby healthy tissues. This makes it theoretically superior to EBRT for lesions in difficult-to-reach areas. But real-world evidence comparing the two approaches has been limited.

Now, a new study investigates the effectiveness of CT-based surface mould BT for non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC) of the earlobe and nose. The research compares BT to EBRT in terms of dose conformity (how well the radiation targets the tumor), dose coverage, and the ability to spare healthy tissue, offering valuable insights for patients and clinicians alike.

Brachytherapy vs. External Beam: A Conformal Showdown

Illustration of targeted radiation therapy treating skin cancer on the ear and nose.

The study focused on ten patients with NMSC of the nose and earlobe. Researchers created customized surface mould applicators based on CT scans, ensuring a precise fit to the patient's unique anatomy. This mould held the radioactive sources in place, delivering targeted radiation directly to the tumor. Treatment plans were carefully tailored to each patient, and the results were compared to those that would have been achieved with EBRT.

So, how did the two approaches stack up? The results showed that BT offered significantly better conformity than EBRT. This means that the radiation was more precisely focused on the tumor, reducing the risk of damage to surrounding healthy tissues. While both BT and EBRT achieved similar dose coverage to the tumor, BT demonstrated superior ability to spare normal tissue at higher doses.

Conformity: BT was significantly more conformal than EBRT, meaning it targeted the tumor more precisely.
Dose Coverage: Both BT and EBRT provided adequate radiation dose to the tumor.
Tissue Sparing: BT was better at sparing healthy tissue at medium to high radiation doses.

These findings suggest that CT-based surface mould brachytherapy is a highly conformal and effective treatment option for superficial lesions in challenging locations like the nose and ear. Its ability to precisely target the tumor while minimizing damage to surrounding tissues makes it a valuable alternative to EBRT.

The Future of Skin Cancer Treatment: Precision and Personalization

This study adds to the growing body of evidence supporting the use of brachytherapy for skin cancer, particularly in areas where precision is paramount. The ability to create customized treatment plans based on CT imaging allows for a highly personalized approach, maximizing the chances of successful treatment while minimizing side effects.

While the study focused on a small group of patients, the results are promising. Further research is needed to confirm these findings in larger populations and to explore the long-term outcomes of CT-based surface mould brachytherapy. However, this study provides valuable insights for clinicians and patients considering treatment options for NMSC in challenging locations.

As technology advances and our understanding of skin cancer grows, expect to see even more sophisticated and targeted treatment approaches emerge. Brachytherapy, with its ability to deliver precise radiation doses, is poised to play a significant role in the future of personalized skin cancer care.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.5114/jcb.2016.61066, Alternate LINK

Title: Highly Conformal Ct Based Surface Mould Brachytherapy For Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers Of Earlobe And Nose

Subject: Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and imaging

Journal: Journal of Contemporary Brachytherapy

Publisher: Termedia Sp. z.o.o.

Authors: Łukasz Kuncman, Sławomir Kozłowski, Andrzej Pietraszek, Malwina Pietrzykowska-Kuncman, Justyna Danielska, Janusz Sobotkowski, Jolanta Łuniewska-Bury, Jacek Fijuth

Published: 2016-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is Brachytherapy?

Brachytherapy (BT) is a type of radiation therapy (RT) where radioactive sources are placed directly in or near the tumor. This method contrasts with External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT), where radiation is delivered from outside the body. The benefit of BT is its precision, allowing for a higher radiation dose to the tumor while minimizing exposure to the surrounding healthy tissues. The application of CT-based surface mould Brachytherapy allows for customized treatment plans that closely match the patient's unique anatomy, particularly beneficial for complex areas such as the nose and ear.

What does it mean for Brachytherapy to be more conformal?

The study indicates that CT-based surface mould Brachytherapy is more conformal than External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT). Conformity refers to the precision with which the radiation targets the tumor. The study found that Brachytherapy precisely focuses the radiation on the tumor, reducing the risk of damage to the surrounding healthy tissues. This precision is especially significant in areas like the nose and ear, where the goal is to minimize damage while ensuring adequate dose coverage to the tumor.

How does Brachytherapy compare to External Beam Radiation Therapy in terms of dose coverage and tissue sparing?

The study's findings showed that Brachytherapy and External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT) achieve similar dose coverage, meaning both methods adequately deliver the necessary radiation dose to the tumor. However, Brachytherapy demonstrated a superior ability to spare normal tissue at higher radiation doses. This difference is critical because it shows Brachytherapy's potential to reduce side effects and improve the patient's quality of life. This means the treatment is more effective at killing cancer cells while protecting the healthy tissues.

What are the main advantages of Brachytherapy for treating skin cancer in the nose and ear?

The primary advantage of Brachytherapy is its precision in delivering radiation directly to the tumor while minimizing exposure to the surrounding healthy tissues. This is especially beneficial in treating Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers (NMSC) in sensitive areas like the nose and ear. The study's utilization of CT-based surface mould Brachytherapy allows for customized treatment plans, increasing the chances of successful treatment and reducing potential side effects compared to External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT).

How does Brachytherapy differ from External Beam Radiation Therapy?

External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT) and Brachytherapy (BT) are both types of radiation therapy (RT) used to treat cancer, but they differ in how they deliver radiation. EBRT directs radiation beams from an external source toward the tumor. Brachytherapy, on the other hand, involves placing radioactive sources directly inside or near the tumor. The study highlights Brachytherapy's potential to be superior to EBRT in terms of conformity and tissue sparing, especially for tumors in challenging locations. This difference in delivery affects the precision and impact of radiation therapy.