Radiation therapy for early Dupuytren's disease

The committee noted that, despite the recommendations in the previous guidance for audit, and encouragement for further research, data collection since the guidance was published had been disappointing.

The committee noted the large number of supportive comments received from patients who have had the procedure.

The committee noted that, given the uncertainty over the natural history of the disease, it is difficult to identify which patients have disease that will progress.

The committee noted that, despite the theoretical risk of malignancy, there were no reports of radiation-induced malignancy in the literature identified in the overview.

The committee noted that a review of the use of radiotherapy for benign conditions published by the Royal College of Radiologists in 2015 recommended that only patients whose disease has progressed within the last 6 to 12 months should be treated.