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How do you choose between Grenz ray in a short course (e.g., ~5–7 fractions) versus longer-course superficial/megavoltage external beam regimens for large, ill-defined lentigo maligna on the cheek when surgery is not feasible?

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2 Answers
Mednet Member
Mednet Member
Radiation Oncology · Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

The practical answer to this question is based on resource availability. There is a significant body of literature from Europe demonstrating the efficacy of Grenz ray therapy (albeit in retrospective, observational studies, with all of the usual caveats). To my knowledge, Grenz ray therapy is not wi...

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Mednet Member
Mednet Member
Radiation Oncology · University of Texas at Tyler

My understanding of Grenz ray therapy is that it was a historic treatment popularized in the 1920's for benign skin diseases that has largely now been replaced by systemic, biologic therapies. It had been used at doses of 200 cGy per week to reduce dendritic Langerhans cells, thereby treating psoria...

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