Radiation therapy for Ledderhose disease

Ledderhose disease, also called plantar fibromatosis or Dupuytren’s of the foot, is a benign thickening of the connective tissue (fascia) in the sole of your foot.

It typically starts as a small lump, called a plantar fibroma, in the arch of your foot and may not affect your quality-of-life for some time. However, as the nodule grows larger it can cause tenderness and pain, especially when standing or walking.^1,2

It is generally seen in middle-aged and elderly people and occurs in men up to 10x more frequently than women, with 25% of patients exhibiting symptoms in both feet.^1,2

The main cause of Ledderhose disease remains uncertain. However, there are several risk factors associated with developing this disease, including:^1,2

• Smoking
• Diabetes
• Liver disease
• Medication for epilepsy
• Injury or surgery to the foot

The main symptom for most people, is a slow-growing lump in the arch of their foot.¹

The primary aim of treatment is to control and correct any deformity and prevent nerve injury, returning normal function where possible. It is not possible to cure the disease.^1,2 Management of Ledderhose depends on disease severity, and your specialist will discuss the best options with you.

Treatment options include:¹

• Steroid injections
• Orthodics
• Radiation therapy
• Extracorporeal shock wave therapy
• Collagenase
• Surgery

Radiation therapy may be used to prevent the worsening of Ledderhose disease and improve symptoms.

During your treatment, radiation is aimed towards the affected area to soften and shrink the nodules and prevent the formation of any further ones forming. Radiation therapy reduces the growth of nodules by altering the development and growth rate of fibroblasts, the cells which are responsible for creating the lumps in the connective tissue. Radiation therapy has an anti-inflammatory effect and reduces inflammation around the cords and nodules, potentially reducing pain in the area.^1,2

Research shows that radiation therapy is very effective for the treatment of Ledderhose disease, with improvement in 79% of patients after an average follow-up of over 2 years.3 Many individuals described an improvement in the nodules in their feet (83% of cases), improved functionality (75%) and reduced pain (71%).³

A technique called electron beam radiation therapy is used for Ledderhose disease. Delivered by a machine called a linear accelerator (LINAC), it’s very similar to a regular X-ray, but stronger to treat deeper tissues effectively.

Radiation treatments can be delivered in up to 10 sessions, with each session takes around 15 minutes. There may be some mild redness of the skin immediately following treatment, and some developing some dryness and peeling as treatments progress, but these symptoms usually disappear over 2-3 weeks.