From Scalpel to SRT: Impact of Innovation on the Dermatology Industry

Every industry hits an inflection point, where technology transforms the way that things have always been done. Within the medtech industry, this has been witnessed across conditions.

Angioplasties, for instance, were once used to treat clogged arteries, and stents have become the norm. Continuous glucose monitors have become the choice for those managing diabetes, removing the need for several skin pricks throughout the day.

Within the dermatology industry, providers are facing a shift in how to handle non-melanoma skin cancers. For nearly 100 years, the scalpel or Mohs surgery has been the preferred treatment modality for skin cancer. Innovative technology like superficial radiotherapy (SRT) offers an alternative treatment option with benefits to both patients and providers.

SRT technology offers a non-surgical alternative for non-melanoma skin cancer, giving patients an option to manage their care in the way that works best for them. While there has been significant adoption of SRT over the last several years, this year will greatly transform the scale of technology.

Of significant note, this year’s code changes for SRT technology turn market access into a reliable demand signal. As a result, it will help accelerate adoption and turn this inflection point into an opportunity to scale more predictably.

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Advancing Treatment Options for Skin Cancers

While Mohs continues to be a highly effective option for treating skin cancers, it can be painful and result in visible scarring for patients. For those over the age of 65 who present other medical issues, such as diabetes or a heart condition, surgery raises health risks and potential side effects.

SRT technology provides a non-surgical alternative for non-melanoma skin cancer. Unlike traditional LINACs used in oncology centers, modern SRT technology uses low-energy kilovoltage in short increments (30 seconds) to kill cancer cells on the spot. Patients undergo a series of treatments, which can be conducted right in the dermatology clinic without the need for surgery.

The ability to create a treatment strategy that supports the typical clinical workflow makes SRT technology a key innovator in building skin cancer treatment into the core of the dermatology practice. From eliminating the fear of the scar to simplifying treatment options, this advanced technology gives patients an option to support their specific needs for treatment. And for providers, the technology offers significant advantages for the overall treatment workflow through to the reimbursement process.

Just as the medical industry witnessed the role of technology and widespread innovation in transforming treatment modalities for heart conditions, diabetes, and other chronic conditions, the SRT advances treatment options for patients with skin cancer. While it is an effective option for all patients, the SRT provides significant benefits to the older population, as well as those who have diabetes or heart conditions.

Depth of Innovation with SRT Technology

For dermatology, innovation like the SRT serves as an opening to advance the practice and how medical professionals treat multiple skin conditions and diseases. Beyond skin cancer, the technology has been a proven solution for keloids, which are often painful and difficult to treat.

SRT technology targets the irregular fibrous tissue core of keloids. While significantly removing the appearance of keloids, SRT can reduce the recurrence of keloids to less than 10% to 15%.

For providers, advancements in technology mean they can meet the dynamic needs of their patient population. It’s estimated that 10% of the population has keloids. And, skin cancer continues to accelerate in the United States, with estimates showing that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer before they turn 70. The addition of SRT technology as a treatment option ensures that patients will be treated with the modality that works best for their skin and other conditions.

New Gold Standard: Options for Treatment

Innovation has extended treatment options for other conditions; SRT technology will do the same for dermatology. Mohs surgery will continue to be an essential treatment option for skin cancer. However, as dermatology and the overall medical community continue to move towards a non-invasive standard of care, SRT technology will be core to the modernization of today’s dermatology practice.

After all, cardiology didn’t stop at the bypass, and dermatology shouldn’t stop at the suture. This inflection point delivers a non-surgical equivalent with similar cure rates for non-melanoma skin cancers.

From digitizing the treatment plan to providing a digital workflow for providers, SRT technology will provide the innovation necessary for dermatology to modernize beyond the scalpel.

Michael Sardano, Esq., is president and chief commercial officer of Sensus Healthcare (NASDAQ: SRTS), a medical device company specializing in non-invasive treatments for skin cancer and other dermatologic conditions. He leads the company’s global sales, marketing, and commercial strategy and has played a key role in advancing reimbursement and physician adoption of superficial radiotherapy (SRT) technology.