Information for the public
What has NICE said?
What has NICE said?
There are no major safety concerns with radiation therapy for early Dupuytren's disease (without deformity), but not much good evidence about how well it works. It should only be used if extra care is taken to explain the risks, and extra steps are put in place to record and review what happens. More research on this procedure is needed, and NICE may look at it again if more evidence is published.
What does this mean for me?
Your health professional should fully explain what is involved in having this procedure, and discuss the possible benefits and risks with you. In particular, they should explain the uncertainty about the evidence on how likely it is to improve your symptoms. You should also be told how to find more information about the procedure. You should only be asked if you want this procedure after having this discussion. Your health professional should ask you if details of your procedure can be collected.
Other comments from NICE
NICE said that a lot of people who have had the procedure provided supportive comments. But, it said that the procedure might only help people whose disease will get worse without treatment, and they are difficult to identify. It also said that no published reports of cancer were found, despite the theoretical risk of radiation-induced cancer.