Radiotherapy for Ledderhose disease
Radiotherapy for Ledderhose disease
Radiotherapy has been a proven and effective treatment for cancer for decades. Less well known is that radiotherapy can also be beneficial for certain benign conditions. One such condition is Ledderhose disease, in which hard fibrous nodules develop in the sole of the foot, causing pain and walking difficulties. Until now, high-quality scientific evidence supporting the effectiveness of radiotherapy for this disease has been lacking.
This thesis of Anneke de Haan provides the first robust evidence that radiotherapy for Ledderhose disease is effective, safe, and cost-effective. In the LedRad study, a national randomized, placebo-controlled trial, patients treated with radiotherapy showed clear improvements in pain, quality of life, and walking ability. Reported side effects were mild and temporary. Moreover, an economic evaluation demonstrated that the treatment not only improves health outcomes but also represents a cost-effective investment from a societal perspective.
Based on these results, the National Health Care Institute of the Netherlands decided in 2024 to include radiotherapy for Ledderhose disease in the national basic health insurance package. As a result, patients can now access this evidence-based treatment in several hospitals across the Netherlands.
The research also provides new insights into how the disease affects gait patterns and how radiotherapy can help restore them. This thesis thus opens the door to a broader role for radiotherapy in benign conditions—a safe, effective treatment with a direct impact on patients’ quality of life.