Many radiation oncology departments are in need of efficient and reliable solutions for skin cancer treatments. The SRT-100 superficial treatment system is an excellent choice.
The SRT-100 can increase the efficiency of a radiation oncology department by providing quick treatment times and not tying up an expensive linear accelerator. It is installed quickly and easily, and can be installed in a CT or simulator room.
It is also an optimal replacement for an older superficial unit that may no longer provide the stable power and functionality to support quality treatments.
Many facilities have used their SRT-100 to increase skin cancer referral cases as well. As of May 2009, more than 3000 skin cancer patients have been treated successfully with the SRT-100. As a standard of care for skin cancer, the SRT-100 system provides an alternative to surgery for treating basal and squamous cell carcinomas, especially for those skin conditions requiring difficult or extensive surgery in sensitive head and neck regions such as the fold in the nose, eyelids, lips, corners of the mouth and the lining of the ear that would otherwise lead to a poor cosmetic outcome. The SRT-100 treatment procedure does not require the use of anesthetics and eliminates the need for skin grafting when surgery could result in a less than desirable cosmetic outcome. This procedure is painless and benefits those patients who may have a fear of surgery and needles, patients who have contraindications for reconstructive surgery that are taking blood thinning medications and for those that cannot tolerate general anesthesia. Click here to read the most recent SRT-100 news
Key Benefits of the SRT-100
- More efficient skin cancer treatments
- Easy to install, set up and operate
- Patient treatment flexibility with moving arm and portability
ROS provides distribution of SRT-100 in these states:
Generator:
- Type- Constant Potential HV, Input Line- 120 - 230 VAC
X-Ray Tube:
- Metal Ceramic, Water-cooled, Tungsten Target, End grounded
- Rating= 120kV/10mA, 40kV/30mA, 1200 watts continuous dissipation
- Focal Spot Size= 1mm x 1mm
Base Unit Assembly:
- Basic Space Requirements: 29” x 30”
- Vertical Travel: up to 68”
- Horizontal Arm Travel: 17” to 61” from center
- X-Ray Tube Movement: V&H 180 degrees
- Integrated Modular Components: Input power, HV generator, Heat exchanger
Operator Control Console:
- Can be located up to 100’ (30 meters) from base unit
- Service mode for system set-up and calibration - key entry
Two Treatment Techniques:
- 100kV @ 8mA, 2.1mm Al. HVL or 70kV @ 10mA, 1.3mm Al. HVL
- X-Ray output is 460 cGy @ 15cm SSD
Automatic Filter Change (Patent Pending):
- 2.1mm Al. HVL / 1.3 mm Al. HVL / Pb X-Ray Block
Automatic Warm-up Procedures:
- Automatically activated from the time of last exposure
- Four pre-programmed sequences
- Lead blocker automatically placed over x-ray tube support
RAD Check:
- Direct radiation measurement of output and pre-treatment verification
System Weight:
- 350 lbs
Accessories:
- The SRT-100 includes all the various sized Applicators ranging from 1.5cm to 10.0cm, an Applicator Replacement TIP Kit, a Service Spare Fuse/Hardware Kit, a Cable Retractor Installation Kit and a set of Physicist Calibration Fixtures.
Replaceable Safety Contact Shields:
- Applicator size specific. Visibility of treated area.
Maximum Field Size:
- 10 cm.
Maximum Energy:
- 100 kV
May - National Skin Cancer Awareness Month
Click here to visit our blog to learn more about skin cancer facts, free screenings, prevention and treatment options.
Skin Cancer Disease, Diagnosis and Treatment
It is estimated that over 2.8 million new skin cancer cases are diagnosed annually worldwide and will continue to increase at a rate of 4% each year. Over 95% of these skin cancers are basal or squamous cell carcinomas. Other skin cancer categories include mycosis fungoides, Kaposi's sarcoma, Paget's disease and aprocrine carcinoma. The annual death rate from skin cancer in the United States is approximately 10,000. The primary treatment options providing both high cure rate and low recurrence include surgery and non-invasive superficial x-ray therapy. Annual worldwide medical expenditures for treating skin cancer exceed $2.5B.
The incidence of skin cancer has steadily increased over the past 75 years. During the 1930's, 1 in 1500 developed skin cancer. In 1960, the rate had risen to 1 in 600 and in 2000, the rate increased to 1 in 66. The National Cancer Institute estimates that 1 out of 7 are now at risk for developing some form of skin cancer during their lifetime. Increased exposure to the sun without skin protection and a decreasing natural ozone layer are cited as the chief causes of this increase.
Skin cancer, like all cancers, takes a long time to develop from a single mutated cell to a visible change seen on the skin. Older adults are more susceptible. 50% of skin cancer cases occur in adults aged over 60, with males more at risk than females by a factor of two. The US Census Bureau projects that by the year 2025 the over 60-age group will double in size from the year 2000. This is further evidenced by the rising number of nursing convalescent homes for the aged, which has steadily increased to over 17,000 in the United States.
Clinical Use of Superficial Radiotherapy (SRT)
The traditional methods for treating skin cancer with proven high cure rates above 90% - 95% and low recurrence of less than 10% involve surgical procedures and non-invasive Superficial Radiotherapy (SRT). Although other treatment methods are emerging, many are still in development stages requiring further clinical studies for cure rate/recurrence outcomes and evaluation of after-effects such as edema, permanent pigment loss, atrophy, hypertrophic scarring, motor and sensory neuropathy. SRT has been a proven skin cancer treatment method treating basal and squamous cell carcinomas since the 1950's providing a high cure rate and low recurrence. Medicare part B and most insurance carriers readily accept SRT treatment for reimbursement. SRT becomes a logical choice for primary lesions that otherwise require difficult or extensive surgery with sensitive structures in the head and neck regions - the fold in the nose, eyelids, lips, corner of mouth, and the lining of the ear that would otherwise lead to a poor cosmetic outcome. SRT treatment procedures do not require the use of anesthetics and eliminates the need for skin grafting when surgery would result in an extensive defect. Cosmetic results are rated excellent in comparison to other treatments with a small amount of hypopigmentation or telangiectasia at the treatment site.
Superficial X-ray Therapy is most advantageous for the treatment of non-melanoma skin cancers in the head and neck region and/or combined with the following patient situations:
- Patients who refuse surgery due to fear of surgery or needle phobia.
- Patients who may not be medically fit for surgery, who may have contraindications for reconstructive surgery such as patients receiving anti-coagulants and patients unfit for general anesthesia.
- Patients in who x-ray therapy may give a better cosmetic outcome, especially in the linings of the ear, the folds in nose, the lip and corners of the mouth.
- Patients in who x-ray therapy may provide a simpler option than extensive reconstructive surgery involving skin grafting.
- Patients in who surgery may cause nerve damage or functional impairment such as tumors overlying the spinal accessory nerve or marginal mandibular nerve.
- Patients with deep or lateral marginal involvement following excision of tumors where surgery is not feasible or not likely to be tolerated or refused.
- Patients who have a high risk of residual microscopic size disease such as a patient with a completely excised tumor with perineural invasion and no clinical signs or following surgery of poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinomas.
- Patients with small volume or marginal recurrent disease following surgery which may require x-ray treatment of the full length of the scar and a safe margin clearance.
Source: Radiation Treatment & Radiation Reactions in Dermatology, Johnson and Webster, 2004
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