Underwriters and claims departments must better understand the use of radiosurgery, especially on complex neurological conditions that may previously have been classed as untreatable, according to RGA Australia.

Senior Claims Consultant Dominik Slotwinski says the radiation-based treatment is a well established and non-invasive mode of treating brain tumours and other lesions.

“Radiosurgery has a significant advantage over traditional open surgery in that morbidity risks and recovery times are substantially reduced,” he said.

“The underlying diagnosis must primarily drive the underwriting process. However, the response and outcome of the particular condition might be altered because of the radiosurgery.”

Neurosurgeons and radiation oncologists use various types of scan to determine the amount of radiation required in treatment.

Mr Slotwinski says most radiosurgery is performed in a single treatment, and the patient returns home the same day.

“Claimants who were previously either untreatable or who might have suffered significant side effects from traditional open-brain surgery may return to some form of work sooner.

“Equally important is the potential for extension of life through radiosurgery.

“This is particularly so in claims for malignant brain tumours that might ordinarily have resulted in early mortality.”

Mr Slotwinski says the benefits of radiosurgery should be considered when assessing life, terminal illness and disability claims.

“Underwriters and claims analysts will benefit from understanding the fundamental principles of radiosurgery and its applications. These procedures are likely to be performed more frequently in the future and they will inevitably impact the insurance industry in ways that will need to be understood and quantified.”