Image-Guided SRT (Image-Guided Superficial Radiation Therapy) is a type of radiation used just for skin cancer. It kills skin cancer cells using low levels of X-ray energy. This energy is like what dentists use to X-ray teeth. It is given by a Radiation Therapist in a dermatologist’s office.

Image-Guided SRT is the first and only radiation treatment for skin
cancer that uses ultrasound images. The ultrasound images let your dermatologist see the exact size of the cancer so he or she can target the area with the precise dose. These images also show the cancer shrinking and going away after each treatment.

Image-Guided SRT is a surgery-free treatment that is not the same as other radiation treatments. It differs not only from radiation used to treat other types of cancer, like breast and prostate cancer, but also from other skin cancer radiation treatments.

As with any medical procedure, there are some potential side effects of Image-Guided SRT.

• The most common side effects are usually mild to moderate irritation, redness, thinning, or breakdown of the skin that was treated, which may increase the risk for a skin infection.
• These side effects can be cared for by your doctor and usually go away within 2 to 6 weeks after treatment ends.
• Some people may notice that the skin that was treated becomes darker or lighter. Within the treatment field there will be hair loss.
• With treatment on the nose, a nosebleed is a potential side effect typically caused by overall dryness in the nasal passages. It is usually manageable with saline nasal spray or by applying a gentle ointment, such as Aquaphor, inside the nostrils.
• Rare side effects include a skin ulcer that does not heal and another cancer forming in the same area 20 to 40 years after treatment.

Yes, Image-Guided SRT is covered by Medicare and most commercial insurance companies, depending on individual coverage. It is best to discuss coverage with the facility or dermatologist providing the treatment.

Medicare and most commercial insurances cover Image-Guided SRT. However, every situation is unique. The medical practice offering the treatment should be able to provide you an estimated cost based on your insurance coverage, complexity of the case, and other factors. Please contact a dermatology office offering GentleCure for pricing questions.

Image-Guided SRT, a medical device that delivers precise low-energy radiation using ultrasound imaging as guidance to treat a tumor or other conditions on the body, received FDA clearance in 2015. In order to receive the clearance, the device manufacturer submitted data and other clinical studies to demonstrate its safety and effectiveness to the FDA.