Expanding the Scope of Radiation Therapy for Nonmalignant Diseases
This series provides an overview of historical and contemporary indications for radiation therapy in the treatment of nononcological conditions such as ventricular tachycardia, plantar fasciitis, Dupuytren's and Ledderhose diseases, osteoarthritis, and functional brain disorders. The presenters review data supporting the use of radiation therapy for these conditions, describe the biological mechanisms of efficacy, and provide practical instructions on how to treat.
TOPICS COVERED:
Each topic is available as an onDemand recording.
- What Goes Around Comes Around: Radiation Therapy of Nonmalignant Disorders
- Cardiac Radioablation for Ventricular Tachycardia
- A Pain in the Foot: Radiotherapy for Plantar Fasciitis
- An Overview of the Multidisciplinary Management of Dupuytren's and Ledderhose Diseases
- Low Dose Radiotherapy for Osteoarthritis
- A Functional Radiosurgery Renaissance — Historical Perspectives & Future Applications
Please see the Program tab for session descriptions and presenters.
This activity is available from July 22, 2024, through 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on October 8, 2026.
The content was originally presented and recorded as a live webinar series August 28 - November 7, 2024.
Target Audience
This activity is designed to meet the interests of radiation oncologists, radiation physicists, and radiation oncology residents.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to do the following:
- Classify potential indications for radiotherapy of benign diseases.
- Identify trends and knowledge gaps in radiotherapy of benign diseases.
- Estimate the risk of treatment toxicity.
- Describe the key elements required to define a cardiac radioablation target volume.
- Describe expected efficacy and toxicity outcomes following cardiac radioablation.
- Describe plantar fasciitis, and know that it is common, and that traditional treatments can be ineffective.
- Discuss the evidence and mechanisms behind the use of radiotherapy for plantar fasciitis.
- Use radiotherapy effectively to treat plantar fasciitis.
- Describe and understand the unique pathophysiology of Dupuytren’s and Ledderhose Disease.
- Analyze current data on the role of radiotherapy in the management of Dupuytren’s and Ledderhose Disease.
- Discuss the role of the radiation oncologist in the multidisciplinary management of Dupuytren’s and Ledderhose Disease.
- Articulate the evidence showing benefit of low dose radiotherapy (LDRT) for osteoarthritis as well as limitations.
- Identify appropriate patients who might benefit from LDRT and identify strategies for educating referring providers to develop thriving service line.
- Increase familiarity with the historical background of functional radiosurgery.
- Describe current applications of functional radiosurgery.
- Share a vision for future potential applications of functional radiosurgery.
What Goes Around Comes Around: Radiation Therapy of Nonmalignant Disorders
Presenter: David Roberge, MD
Moderator: Arshin Sheybani, MD
This session provides an overview of radiotherapy for nonmalignant indications from the lead co-editor of the 3rd edition of Radiation Therapy of Benign Diseases. The presentation touches on historical aspects as well as contemporary trends. Following the structure of this textbook, diseases irradiated are categorized as autoimmune, cutaneous, infectious, inflammatory, endocrine, musculoskeletal, neurological, lymphoid, pain-related, psychiatric, reproductive, tumoral, vascular or miscellaneous. The evidence supporting many indications is summarized and tips are shared for estimating treatment toxicity.
Cardiac Radioablation for Ventricular Tachycardia
Presenters: Daniel H. Cooper, MD; Geoff Hugo, PhD; Kaitlin Moore; Pamela Samson, MD, MPHS
Moderator: Malcolm Mattes, MD
Patients with high-risk ventricular tachycardia (VT) refractory to standard therapies (anti-arrhythmic drugs, catheter ablation) and multiple cardiovascular risk factors have poor survival and high rates of recurrent VT. Noninvasive cardiac radioablation using a single dose of SBRT to the VT substrate in the myocardium has shown promising results in a single Phase I/II trial and multiple case series. A number of elements of this new treatment remain in flux, including optimal patient selection, methods for targeting, methods for motion management, direct comparisons with catheter ablation, new findings around the biological underpinnings of cardiac radioablation, and evolving regulatory and billing issues.
A Pain in the Foot: Radiotherapy for Plantar Fasciitis
Presenter: Jarad Martin, DMed
Moderator: Malcolm Mattes, MD
This session provides an overview of the evidence and approach in managing patients with plantar fasciitis with radiotherapy.
An Overview of the Multidisciplinary Management of Dupuytren's and Ledderhose Diseases
Presenters: Gopal Bajaj, MD, MBA, FASTRO and M. Heinrich Seegenschmiedt, MD, PhD
Moderator: Bobby N. Koneru, MD, FASTRO
Dupuytren's and Ledderhose Diseases are very prevalent hyperproliferative disorders of the hands and feet that affect 3-5% of the population. When progressive, these conditions can result in pain, debility and loss of function. Radiation therapy is commonly utilized in Europe for the treatment of both of these conditions but much less commonly employed in North America. This session reviews the pathophysiology, diagnosis and management of Dupuytren's and Ledderhose Diseases and provide an overview of the expanding role of the radiation oncologist in the longitudinal and multidisciplinary management of these patients.
Low Dose Radiotherapy for Osteoarthritis
Presenters: Austin Dove, MD and Austin Kirschner, MD, PhD
Moderator: Bobby N. Koneru, MD, FASTRO
For several decades, low dose radiotherapy (LDRT) has been used in the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) with significant success. Low dose radiotherapy has been established as an effective therapeutic alternative for patients with OA evidenced by multiple clinical trials with symptomatic pain relief shown in 70-90% of all irradiated patients. Given its low toxicity profile, proven effectiveness, non-invasive approach, and non-interference with other therapies, LDRT offers an excellent therapeutic option for refractory OA patients. In this session, we provide an overview of literature and techniques to effectively deliver LDRT for OA.
A Functional Radiosurgery Renaissance — Historical Perspectives & Future Applications
Presenters: Markus Bredel, MD, PhD and Evan Thomas, MD, PhD
Moderator: Malcolm Mattes, MD
This session invites you to explore the history and revival of functional radiosurgery as it delves into the fascinating journey of a technique that revolutionized neurosurgery, from its inception to its current resurgence.
Discover how cutting-edge technology and advanced imaging are breathing new life into this precise, non-invasive treatment. Wel examine its evolving role in managing neurological disorders, chronic pain, and psychiatric conditions. From historical triumphs to contemporary breakthroughs, we chart the course of functional radiosurgery's remarkable resurgence.
Looking ahead, we unveil exciting future applications that promise to expand the horizons of neuroscience and patient care.
- David Roberge, MD is employed by CHUM. Dr. Roberge receives honoraria and travel expenses as an Advisory Board member, consultant, and education/meeting faculty for Novocure; research funding (institution) from Novocure; honoraria and travel expenses as education/meeting faculty for Accuray; honoraria as a consultant and education/meeting faculty for Recordati; honoraria as an Advisory Board member for Roche Canada, Servier Canada, and AstraZeneca Canada. Dr. Roberge has ownership equity/warrants in MISO Chip, Croton Healthcare, and AFX Medical. Dr. Roberge is co-chair of the Brain Disease Site Committee for the Canadian Cancer Trials Group and President-elect of the Canadian Association of Radiation Oncology.
- Daniel H. Cooper, MD is employed by Washington University in St. Louis. Dr. Cooper receives travel expenses and pay/compensation as an Adivsory Board member for Medtronic; honoraria and travel expenses as education/meeting faculty for Abbott; and, honoraria and travel expenses as education/meeting faculty for Boston Scientific.
- Geoff Hugo, PhD is employed by Washington University in St. Louis. Dr. Hugo receives compensation as a consultant for Varian and research funding (institution) from Siemens and ViewRay. Dr. Hugo's institution has a copyright licensed to Varian Medical Systems.
- Katilin Moore is employed by Washington University in St. Louis.
- Pamela Samson, MD, MPHS is employed by Washington University in St. Louis. Dr. Samson receives honoraria and travel expenses as education/meeting faculty for Varian Medical Systems and honoraria as education/meeting faculty for AstraZeneca.
- Jarad Martin, DMed is employed by Calvary Mater Newcastle, GenesisCare, and SeeTreat Medical. Dr. Martin is a Scientific Advisory Board member for Margin Clear. Dr. Martin has stock options in GenesisCare and stock in SeeTreat Medical and Margin-Clear.
- Gopal K. Bajaj, MD, MBA, FASTRO is Partner/President of Radiation Oncology Associates of the Northern Capital Region. Dr. Bajaj has ownership equity and partnership as Co-CM0 of Theralife Clinics North America; ownership equity in Bajaj Ventures LLC; and a partnership in Totipotent Capital.
- M. Heinrich Seegenschmiedt, MD, PhD is employed by employed by ERGEA/RadioOnkologieNetzwerk.
- Austin Dove, MD is employed by Tennessee Oncology.
- Austin Kirschner, MD, PhD is employed by Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
- Markus Bredel, MD, PhD is employed by the University of Miami. Dr. Bredel receives grant/research funding, honoraria, travel expenses, salary support, and compensation/payment from Varian Medical Systems as an advisory board member, consultant, education/meeting faculty, and principal investigator.
- Evan Thomas, MD, PhD is employed by The Ohio State University. Dr. Thomas receives grant/research funding (institution), honoraria, travel expenses, and compensation as an Advisory Board Member, consultant, and PI for Varian Medical Systems.
- Malcolm Mattes, MD is employed by the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey. Dr. Mattes is Vice Chair of the ASTRO Communications Committee.
- Arshin Sheybani, MD is employed by UnityPoint Health. Dr. Sheybani is the community oncologist representative on the National Cancer Institute Gastrointestinal Steering Committee Rectal-Anal Task Force, member of the ASTRO Nominating Committee, and co-PI on an Iowa-Wide Oncology Research Coalition, a National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program.
- Bobby N. Koneru, MD, FASTRO is employed by FHN Memorial Hospital and Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine. Dr. Koneru serves on the Clinical Advisory Board of the International Organisation for Radiotherapy for Benign Conditions.
The person(s) above served as the developer(s) of this activity. Additionally, the Education Committee had control over the content of this activity. All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Available Credit
- 6.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education for physicians. ASTRO designates this Live activity for a maximum of 6.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
- 6.50 Certificate of AttendanceThis activity was designated for 6.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.
Price
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Member: $299
Member-in-training: $149
Member Student/Grad Student/PGY: $149
Member Postdoctoral Fellow: $149
Nonmember: $449
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The activity and its materials will only be available on the ASTRO website until October 8, 2026, regardless of purchase date. At the expiration of the activity, participants will no longer have access to the activity or its materials. ASTRO reserves the right to remove an activity before its expiration date.
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