Analgetic irradiation of degenerative-inflammatory skeletal diseases. Benefits and risks

Between 1980 and 1991, ionizing radiation was applied for analgesic purposes to 181 patients (97 men, 84 women, mean age 54 [29-81] years) with degenerative-inflammatory skeletal disease. The long-term effects were evaluated by questionnaire. Radiation of 2.5 to 6.0 Gy achieved lasting pain relief in 21 of 30 patients (70%) with arthritis of the shoulder or humeroscapular periarthritis, 15 of 21 (71%) with arthritis of the hip, in 12 of 15 (80%) with heel spurs or Achilles tendon bursitis and 10 of 11 (91%) with epicondylitis. Pain relief lasted for longer than two years in 41 of the 77 patients (53%). There were no side effects at the stated dosage. According to dose measurements the theoretical risk of malignant tumour induction is 20-40/million radiated patients and thus four orders of magnitude below the spontaneous malignant tumour incidence rate. The genetic risk is even lower. Ionizing radiation of degenerative-inflammatory diseases is thus an effective form of treatment with few side effects.