Brachytherapy method of treating skin tumors using a tailor-made radioactive source

摘要

Embodiments of the invention relate to a method of treating a cancerous or non-cancerous skin lesion of a subject, e.g. a human patient, by epidermal radioisotope therapy, a specialized type of brachytherapy. The method can include defining and marking an area of skin to be treated; covering the area with a protective layer, e.g. a protective film or foil; applying a tailor-made radioactive source by applying a layer of a radioactive source material on the protective layer, such that the area is covered by the material while any area not to be treated is spared; and removing the radioactive source after a predetermined time period of irradiation.

主权项

1. A method of treating a skin lesion of a subject by epidermal radioisotope therapy, comprising:
(a) defining an area of skin, of a subject, to be treated; (b) subsequent to (a), covering the area of skin to be treated with a protective layer; (c) subsequent to (b), spreading a moldable radioactive source material on the protective layer over the area of skin to be treated so as to create a layer of the moldable radioactive source material over the area of the skin to be treated, such that the moldable radioactive source material is not over any area of skin, of the subject, not to be treated, wherein the moldable radioactive source material comprises a semi-fluid or fluid radioactive source material when spreading the moldable radioactive source material on the protective layer over the area of skin to be treated so as to create a layer of the moldable radioactive source material over the area of the skin to be treated, wherein the moldable radioactive source material comprises a radioactive source, wherein irradiation from the radioactive source treats a skin lesion, of the subject, and wherein the protective layer prevents physical contact between the moldable radioactive source material spread on the protective layer and the area of skin to be treated covered by the protective layer; and (d) removing the moldable radioactive source material after a predetermined time period of irradiation.