I have recently completed a course of radiotherapy for Dupuytren's at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, MA. Dr. Anthony Zietman, a radiation oncologist who otherwise treats prostate cancer, had attended several seminars by Dr. Seegenschmiedt and was thus knowledgeable about, and interested in, treating me as his first Dupuytren's case.

I have two palm and two finger nodules on my left hand, but no cord development, and thus was a good candidate for radiotherapy to arrest the disease. As you may be aware, radiotherapy is not as effective for later stages.

I received 7 treatments, one a day excluding weekends. Dr. Zietman followed a protocol described in Dr. Seegenschmiedt's 2001 study. The treatments seem to have arrested the growth of the nodules. I experienced no side effects. It was covered by my insurance, UnitedHealthcare.

Dr. Zietman's schedule is backed up for weeks, but you can call for an appointment at 617-643-1769.

Another radiation oncologist, Dr. Stuart Berman at Beth Israel Deaconess in Waltham, MA, just outside of Boston, also indicated to me an interest in, and a willingness to treat, Dupuytren's. He can be reached at 617-667-2345.

It took me weeks to locate Dr. Zietman and Dr. Berman, and I urge any one with early stage Dupuytren's to be persistent in locating a radiation oncologist if radiotherapy might be appropriate. I hope that radiotherapy can soon become readily available to anyone with early stage Dupuytren's.

Best of luck. I will try to respond to any questions.

Dan

AS far as I understand the radiotherapy protocols from the Alfried Krupp Hospital
they advice two different radiation schedules:

1st Option: 5 x 3Gy within ONE week, then a BREAK of 3 months and then
followed by another 5 x 3Gy within ONE week (total dose 30Gy) ...
2nd Option 7 x 3Gy within TWO weeks, i.e. only 3 treatments per week,
e.g. Monday - Wednesday - Friday (each of the weeks) and the
last treatment on Monday in the 3rd week


I was treated with the second option and had very good success with this
radiation protocol on both of my hands; interestingly my disease started
AFTER my son experienced Morbus Ledderhose at an age of 9 years ...
He was first operated but developed a huge relapse after 3 months, so
that he was disabled, had pain and was unable to practice sports ...
After ONE course of radiation therapy at Alfried Krupp Krankenhaus in
Essen with 5 x 3Gy the disease stopped the nodules shrunk > 50%.
My son is now 16 years old and has foot size 46 (about 11 US), no
late effects, no skin alterations at all. Prof Seegenschmidt has done
all the treatments and follow-up examinations himself. He is an extremely
brigth and very knowlegable doctor, very kind and well organized.



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