How to Treat Benign Diseases - Experiences of the German Cooperative Group on Benign Diseases (GCG-BD)

The activity gives an overview of irradiation of benign diseases. The worldwide unique evidence-based S2-guideline of the German Society for Radiation Oncology (DEGRO) that has been translated into English is also presented. The activity is divided into three parts: 1) medical aspects, indications and definition of target volumes. Indications contain degenerative diseases, osteoarthritis, hyperproliferative diseases, functional disorders, affections of the CNS and other rare indications. Definition of target volumes are presented as well as fractionation and total dosage. The risk of RT-induced malignancies are discussed on the basis of a data set of more than 4,000 patients irradiated because of benign diseases. 2) Biological basics and underlying biological aspects in the treatment of benign diseases as well as the radiobiological data concerning the irradiation of benign diseases from the University of Erlangen is presented. 3) Underlying physical aspects and the use of a Linac accelerator and megavoltage unit in the treatment of benign diseases is presented.

Topics:

  1. Principles and Basics in the Treatment of Non-Malignant Diseases – Clinical Aspects and Target Volume Definitions
    Jan Kriz, MD, PhD
  2. Presentation of Recent Data of the International Benign Target Volume Group
    David Rene Steike, MD
  3. Refresher – Secondary Malignancy after LDRT
    Mathias Sonnhoff, MD
  4. Biological Aspects of Low-Dose Radiotherapy
    Thomas Weissmann, MD
  5. Q and A
    Jan Kriz, MD, PhD – Moderator
    Full Panel

This activity is available from February 24, 2026, through 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on February 23, 2028. 

The content was originally presented and recorded at the 2025 ASTRO Annual Meeting.

Target Audience

The activity is designed to meet the interests of medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, physicists, radiation biologists and residents.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

  • Differentiate the indications in the treatment of benign and explain the Süd fractionation Schemens as well as total dosage.
  • Describe radiobiological and physical aspects in the treatment of benign diseases.
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.00 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 Enduring material for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 1.00 Certificate of Attendance
    This activity was designated for 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.
Course opens: 
02/24/2026
Course expires: 
02/23/2028
Cost:
$149.00
Rating: 
0

Moderator:  

  • Jan Kriz, MD, PhD, is employed by Clemens Hospital Muenster. Dr. Kriz has no relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies to disclose.   

Speakers: 

  • David Rene Steike, MD, is employed by University Hospital of Muenster. Dr. Steike has no relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies to disclose. 
  • Mathias Sonnhoff, MD, is employed by Zentrum für Strahlentherapie und Radioonkologie. Dr. Sonnhoff has no relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies to disclose.
  • Thomas Weissmann, MD, is employed by University Hospital of Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universitaet Erlangen-Nuernberg. Dr. Weissmann has no relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies to disclose. 

Planners: 

  • Malcolm Mattes, MD is employed at Rutgers Cancer Institute. Dr. Mattes received research/grant funding from Gilead Sciences (relationship ended 8/30/2025). Dr. Mattes has no relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies. 
  • Parul Barry, MD, is employed by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Dr. Barry has no relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies. 
  • Michael Haddock, MD, is employed by Mayo Clinic and has no relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies to disclose.
  • Manisha Palta, MD, is employed by Duke Cancer Center and Duke University Hospital. Dr. Palta receives grant/research funding from Merck and Varian Medical Systems. 
  • Salma Jabbour, MD, is employed by Rutgers Cancer Institute. Dr. Jabbour receives grant/research funding from Merck & Co., Inc. and Beigene. Dr. Jabbour receives compensation/payment as a consultant with Radialogica and IMX Medical. 

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

  • 1.00 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 Enduring material for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 1.00 Certificate of Attendance
    This activity was designated for 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.

Price

Cost:
$149.00
Please login or register to take this course.

Course Fees:
ASTRO members must log in to the ASTRO website to view and receive the member rate.

  • Nonmember: $149
  • Member: $99
  • Member-in-Training: $49
  • Student/Graduate Student/PGY-1 Member: $49
  • Postdoctoral Fellow Member: $49

If you are an ASTRO member from a low or lower-middle income country, as identified by the World Bank, you can receive a 50% discount off your corresponding registration for this activity. Please email [email protected] to inquire about the discount.

Policies:
No refunds, extensions, or substitutions will be made for those participants who, for any reason, have not completed the activity by the expiration date. 

Participants using ASTRO Academy activities to satisfy the requirement of a Continuing Certification (MOC) program should verify the credit number and type and availability dates of any activity before making a purchase. No refunds, extensions, or substitutions will be made for participants who have purchased activities that do not align with their MOC requirement.

The activity and its materials will only be available on the ASTRO website until February 23, 2028, 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. 

Required Hardware/software

One of the two latest versions of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer or Safari.