Dupuytren’s disease | Bowen Icon Cancer Centre

What is Dupuytren’s disease?

Dupuytren’s disease (or Dupuytren’s contracture) causes the connective tissue in the palm to thicken, forming nodules and cords that can pull the fingers toward the palm.

Radiotherapy is most effective in the early stages, either where there is no contracture, or where there is a mild contracture of up to 20 degrees. It is non-invasive, painless, and typically given as five short sessions over one week. There is then a 3-month gap and a further 5 sessions are given.

How can radiotherapy help?

Radiotherapy helps by:

Stopping growth of nodules and cords
Reducing pain or tenderness
Reducing chance of forming a contracture (fixed bending) of the fingers
Reducing the chance of needing surgery

Who can benefit?

Radiotherapy may be suitable for people who:

Have early Dupuytren’s disease, either with no contracture or mild contracture of up to 20 degrees
Want to delay or avoid surgery
Prefer a non-surgical treatment with minimal side effects

Your oncologist will review your symptoms and examine your hands and feet to see if you are eligible for the treatment.

What to expect

Consultation and assessment – Your clinician will review your symptoms and examine your hands and feet
Personalised plan – A tailored radiotherapy plan targets affected tissue while protecting healthy skin
Treatment sessions – Each session lasts only a few minutes, is painless, and requires no anaesthetic

Side effects

You will not experience any side effects during treatment itself. Two to three weeks after each week of treatment, the skin on your hand may get a little red, sore or dry, a bit like mild sunburn. This can be treated using a simple moisturiser. One in five people will experience long term dryness of the skin in the treatment area.

Frequently asked questions

Radiotherapy is a painless non-invasive treatment that uses low doses of radiation (like X-rays) to stop the nodules and cords growing and forming a contracture (fixed bending) of the fingers. The main reason it is used is to stabilise the situation and stop you needing surgery.
Yes. Dupuytren’s radiotherapy uses a low dose of radiation (about 30 Gray (Gy) total, compared to 60Gy for cancer treatment) which means the risk of side effects is very small. It has been safely used locally and internationally for decades.
While both use the same technology, Dupuytren’s radiotherapy uses a much lower dose of radiation. Cancer treatments aim to destroy cancer cells, whereas Dupuytren’s radiotherapy targets the fibroblast cells that form the scar tissue that forms the nodules and cords, stopping them growing and forming a contracture (fixed bending) of the fingers. The low radiotherapy dose used in Dupuytren’s means the risk of side effects is low.
Radiotherapy is delivered as a quick, outpatient treatment. You’ll lie on a treatment bed while a machine delivers radiation precisely to the affected area. The procedure is painless, does not require anaesthetic, and typically takes only a few minutes. You will be able to return to your normal activities immediately after each session.
Side effects are minor because of the low radiation doses used. Some patients may notice mild skin changes of redness, soreness and dryness in the treatment area on your palm, but these effects are temporary and usually treated very well by applying a simple moisturiser. There is a 20% chance of longer-term dryness on the palm. Your doctor will discuss any other potential side-effects with you during the consultation.

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If you’d like to know whether radiotherapy might be right for you, our team is here to help. We can explain what to expect, answer your questions, and guide you on the next steps. Contact our centre to speak with one of our care team members.

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Referrals can be made directly to our doctors or through major referral platforms.

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References

1. NHS (2024). Dupuytren’s contracture. National Health Service (UK). https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dupuytrens-contracture/
2. British Society for Surgery of the Hand (2023). Dupuytren’s disease. https://www.bssh.ac.uk/patients/conditions/25/dupuytrens_disease
3. Patient.info (2024) Dupuytren’s contracture. https://patient.info/bones-joints-muscles/dupuytrens-contracture-leaflet
4. Hohendorff B et al. (2024). Low-dose radiotherapy in early-stage Dupuytren’s disease: Evidence and outcomes. Radiation Oncology.
5. Trott K R (2024). Radiation therapy for benign diseases: Evidence and experience in Europe. Advances in Oncology.
6. Seegenschmiedt M H et al. (2015). Radiotherapy for non-malignant disorders: Dupuytren’s disease and related conditions. https://academic.oup.com/bjr/article/88/1051/20150080/7445452