Yes, IG-SRT is a very useful option for treating cancers that have recurred (come back) after surgery. When a basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma recurs post-surgery, it’s often scarred and could be more difficult to re-treat with another surgery (especially if it was a Mohs recurrence, which is uncommon but can happen). IG-SRT can target the residual or recurrent tumor cells in that scar without the need to cut again. Radiation is actually frequently utilized in recurrent cases because the cells might be scattered microscopically in scar tissue and a focused radiation field can sterilize that area effectively. For instance, if someone had Mohs on the ear and the cancer came back in the scar a year later, IG-SRT would be an excellent approach to avoid carving up the ear further – studies show great success rates in eradicating such recurrences with image-guided radiation. Keep in mind, if the area hadn’t been radiated before, we can use radiation now (we generally don’t use radiation twice in the same area, but using it after a failed surgery is fine). IG-SRT on a recurrent lesion still boasts cure rates in the high 90s percent. It also spares you a possibly more extensive second surgery; recurrent tumors can be bigger than they appear due to scar, so surgery might remove a lot more tissue the second time. IG-SRT avoids that. Therefore, if you unfortunately have a recurrence after a prior excision or Mohs, IG-SRT is definitely an option to consider. We would re-stage the area with ultrasound, plan the field to cover the scar and margins, and treat it. Many dermatologists refer recurrent cases for radiation for precisely these reasons. It’s a proven effective strategy. Of course, another Mohs could be done too, but it’s often patient preference – some prefer not to undergo another surgery if radiation can do the job. So yes, we treat post-surgery recurrences with IG-SRT quite successfully.
Category:
IG-SRT
