Radiation therapy for non-tumor diseases

For many decades, X-ray therapy has been used successfully to treat non-tumor diseases, both on its own and in combination with other methods (surgery, drug therapy, physiotherapy, laser therapy, etc.), as has external beam gamma therapy.

The advantages of the method include ease of use and the possibility of treating the vast majority of patients on an outpatient basis, which makes it cost-effective. Irradiation is used when other treatments have had no positive effect.

Most patients are people over 50 who are past reproductive age. Because of the patients’ age and accompanying diseases that rule out physiotherapy, X-ray therapy is often the only possible treatment, since even a previous myocardial infarction or a transient disorder of cerebral circulation is not a contraindication to it.

The main irradiation technique for non-tumor diseases is direct exposure of the pathologically altered organs and tissues. Other radiation approaches may be used only as an exception. Radiation therapy should be delivered using the gentlest possible irradiation methods, in which the doses absorbed in the lesion are maximal, while vital organs and the healthy tissues surrounding the lesion are protected from ionizing radiation.

The effectiveness of radiation therapy for non-tumor diseases is explained by the following radiation effects:

• anti-inflammatory;
• analgesic;
• desensitizing;
• antispasmodic;
• antisecretory.

There are two types of X-ray therapy: short-distance (superficial) and long-distance (deep). Short-distance X-ray therapy uses an anode voltage of up to 100 kV, and long-distance therapy up to 250 kV.

For superficial conditions, “soft” X-rays (40–50 kV) are appropriate; when the process is located deep in the soft tissues (3–5 cm below the skin surface), radiation at 140–150 kV is used. For inflammatory lesions located near bone, “hard” radiation of 200–230 kV should be used.

Contraindications to radiation therapy for non-tumor diseases

Absolute contraindications:

1. a generally severe condition of the patient with a sharply weakened immune system;
2. severe accompanying diseases of the cardiovascular or respiratory system, liver or kidneys in the stage of decompensation;
3. leukopenia (< 3,200 per 1 mm3), thrombocytopenia (<
4. a history of radiation sickness or radiation injuries;
5. tuberculosis;
6. mental illness with loss of orientation in time and space.

Relative contraindications:

1. acute septic and infectious diseases;
2. marked inflammatory changes in the irradiated area caused by various physical and chemical agents, including physiotherapy procedures;
3. pregnancy and childhood.

Indications for radiation therapy for non-tumor diseases

1. Inflammatory diseases of a surgical nature, including purulent ones (boils of the face and neck and of skin-fold areas, carbuncles, abscesses, phlegmons, hidradenitis, panaritium, etc.)
2. Degenerative-dystrophic diseases of the bones and joints (deforming arthrosis, spondyloarthrosis, scapulohumeral periarthritis, osteochondrosis, heel and elbow bursitis, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.).
3. Inflammatory and some hyperplastic diseases of the nervous system (neuritis, neuralgia, plexitis, ganglionitis, post-amputation pain syndrome, etc.).
   1. Dermatology (chronic dermatoses, skin itching, keloid scars, calluses, Dupuytren’s contracture, etc.).
   2. Ophthalmology (keratitis, edematous exophthalmos, etc.).