Treatment of lesions or imperfections in skin, near-skin or in other anatomic tissues, including under direct visualization

A method for treating a patient's skin or near-skin tissues with radiation, comprising:

• selecting a contact applicator having a base end with a skin-contacting surface, a housing extending up proximally from the base end, a window in the base end through which radiation can be delivered to the patient's tissue and a source guide connected to the housing proximal of the base end,
• positioning the contact applicator as desired over a lesion or imperfection in the skin or near-skin tissues, by viewing the skin through the housing of the contact applicator and through the window, at least a portion of the housing being substantially optically transparent, and
• with an electronic, controllable x-ray source positioned in the source guide, switching on the x-ray source and directing radiation through the window to the patient's skin or near-skin tissues to treat lesions or imperfections in the skin or near-skin tissues.