Hi Kate,

there might be a few misunderstanduings that I will try to possibly clarify.

- radiotherapy of Dupuytren disease has been used in Germany for at least 60 years, e.g. Wasserburger K "Therapie der Dupuytrenschen Kontraktur" in Strahlentherapie 100 (1956) 546-560.
- the 13 years of experience might refer to a still on-going long-term study http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007...-642-22697-7_44.
- Prof. Seegenschmiedt published on RT of Dupuytren's as early as 1996 and thus has at least 20 years of experience in treating DD.
- the risk of cancer by RT of Dupuytren Disease can be estimated without waiting to observe a high number of cases, which would be unethical anyway. For a risk estimate see the link on http://www.dupuytren-online.info/radioth...de_effects.html .
- if we waited to have observed 100 cases of cancer after RT of Dupuytren's to get a reasonable statistics we would probably have to wait for another 100 or 1000 years to get results. The probability to develop cancer because of RT of Dupuytren's is low because Hand and foot are fairly robust in that respect.

It is true that aggressive Dupuytren disease is more likely to come back. But radiotherapy may postpone recurrence (not for sure but does for many).

Why would it be too early to use RT? If you have contracture it's too late.

Wolfgang

Edited 01/10/15 13:41

The goal of RT is to stabilize the condition or at least slow down progression. If the condition is stable anyway I would think that RT doesn't make much sense.

Waiting for nodules to become big doesn't seem to be beneficial. Catching them early (when they are growing but still small) seems to be best http://www.dupuytren-online.info/radiation_therapy.html.

Wolfgang

kate:

---

Thank you, Wolfgang. What I understood from previous correspondence on this forum and listening to German Prof. S presentation is that for the RT to be effective the DD must be in an active state that is: new nodules and cords appear. If there is no change it means DD is dormant and I should wait when it activates. Am I correct?

Sounds right to me. I don't think that Prof S is ready do give online consulting without having seen the patient (and withought being able to bill ...).

Wolfgang

Hi Kate,

Sorry for jumping in but I see you are online. Prof S is responsive but there is only so much he can "do" by email and only so many hours in the day. I did email him earlier this year and he was responsive but it was to give a brief case history and to say I was coming to Germany, would he examine me. He did and I did get RT on my hands but not the feet.

I hope this helps.

..... Mike

Hi kate hope Wolfgang has helped and put you at ease somewhat. Where do you live in OZ. Age is one factor to consider. I had Rt back in 07 in Germany. I visited the Royal Adelaide Hospital back then and they would have carried out the procedure but I decided not to be the bunny. In Oz many surgeons have no experience with Rt and that is the same around the world. Dr Harper in WA has been registered on this site before I joined the forum in 2007. For interest Perth Hospital is just installing the first and only Cyberknife RT machine in Australia. Germany has many and I believe Prof Seegenschmiedt's practice was the first private practice to install the Cyberknife in Germany.
Dr Borg in private practice in Adelaide Radiotherapy has been treating patients for both MD and LD for many years.
The radiotherapy process is not a difficult one. Australia has mainly used Rt to treat Cancer patients. Hope this also helps.

Edited 08/27/14 19:28