DEGRO guidelines for the radiotherapy of non-malignant disorders

Abstract

The use of RT can be recommended for the interdisciplinary management of most of the reported disorders. It can be used in the primary treatment approach and as an effective adjunct to other treatment modalities or in some indications as a valuable alternative treatment option. We hope that the updated DEGRO S2e consensus guideline recommendations are a helpful tool for radiation oncologists in the clinical decision-making process.

An effectiveness evaluation of the palmar fascia irradiation of patients suffering from Dupuytren’s disease

“…Although the irradiation of the palmar fascia is not the basic treatment approach, it is a generally acknowledged and widely applied method, especially in the early stage of DD [1,2,25,26]. This method utilises the anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative effect of RT.…”

“…Dupuytren's disease is a fibroproliferative disorder of an unknown aetiology [1,2]. It is manifested by a progressive contracture of the fingers, which impairs hand function.…”

“…Most frequently, it affects men [1,3,5,6]. The palmar fascia is shortened and thickened, which, in consequence, leads to a permanent and irreversible flexed contracture of the fingers [3,7].…”

“…As a consequence, a permanent finger contracture occurs and, sometimes, even a deformity of the metacarpophalangeal joints and metacarpophalangeal joints. The course of the disease may be divided into three stages: the initial onein which the nodules are dominating, the involution stage -the differentiation of the cells to myofibroblasts and the residual stage in which the collagen fibres are present [1,2,25,26].…”

“…The use of irradiation and the application of ionising radiation is universally known and has become an element of the interdisciplinary approach to the treatment of many diseases, including Dupuytren's disease [1,2,25,26]. The efficacy of RT depends on the stage of the disease and is the highest in the early stage [1,2,25,26].…”