Superficial Radiotherapy

Superficial Radiotherapy (SRT)

  • Keloid Scars
  • Basal and Squamous Cell Skin Cancer

 

What is Superfical Radiotherapy? 

The Superficial Radiotherapy (SRT)-100 device uses low energy superficial radiotherapy (SRT) that penetrates no deeper than the thickness of the skin. Superficial X-ray is a noninvasive therapy for hyperactive itchy and painful keloid scars post-surgery and is an alternative therapy for surgical removal for some types of skin cancer. With SRT, there are no needles needed, scarring is minimal, healing time is fast, and risk of infection and recurring lesions is very low. Superficial radiotherapy has been used for over 50 years, but recently the SRT-100 device allows for a nonsurgical treatment option in the private office setting.

Keloids

A Keloid scar is a common hyperactive scar type that can be painful, itchy and disfiguring. Keloids can come after acne, skin piercing, surgery scars, and any skin trauma. Steroid injections and surgical removal of keloids are plagued by the keloid lesion often recurring. Two to three superficial X-ray therapy treatments are performed for keloids, starting the day of the surgical keloid removal. SRT is highly effective at preventing the keloid from reforming post removal without the need for repeated painful steroid injections, keloid compression garments, or skin pressure dressings.

What are Basal and Squamous Cells Carcinomas?

Superficial Radiotherapy treats non-melanoma skin cancers which are an epidemic in the USA. Non-melanoma skin cancer rates are increasing each year especially in people age 60 years and older. Superficial X-ray eliminates basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinomas in a virtually painless manner with highly effective cure rates. Mohs micrographic surgery is another very successful treatment option, but SRT allows for skin cancer removal without needles, scalpel, and sutures. The Superficial X-ray therapies are split up two to three treatments a week for approximately twelve total fractions. Most patients see skin irritation (redness, scaling) about two weeks after starting therapy and this redness peaks at about four to six weeks. After the X-ray treatments the skin appears pink and then fades to be normal skin color or slightly lighter in about three to six months. After the superficial radiotherapy, the remaining scar is only a few millimeters larger around the original skin cancer.