Early-stage Ledderhose disease and Dupuytren's disease are both treated with Radiotherapy. Radiotherapy is used to stop the progression of Dupuytren's disease when it has reached the nodules and cords stage or when fingers have minor deformity of less than 10 degrees. In some circumstances, Radiotherapy is applied following surgery to stop the disease from getting worse.
Modest doses of radiation are often administered over the course of three grey of radiation for five days, followed by a three-month hiatus and another three grey of radiation for five days. Radiotherapy causes malignant cells' DNA to be damaged, which can lead to mitotic catastrophe. One of two types of energy, photon or charged particle, is responsible for this DNA damage.
The atoms that make up the DNA chain are ionised either directly or indirectly as a result of this damage. The ionisation of water causes indirect ionisation, which produces free radicals, particularly hydroxyl radicals, which then cause DNA damage. The two primary Radiotherapy modalities used to treat cancer are photon therapy and proton therapy. These are various types of ionising radiation, and they function by harming the cancer cells so they are unable to divide and ultimately perish.
