[Perspectives of radiation therapy in benign diseases].
OBJECTIVE
The numbers of patients with nonmalignant diseases referred for radiation therapy had to be evaluated for the last 4 years.


METHODS
In the years 2002, 2004, and 2005 radiation therapy was performed in 61, 40, and 26 patients, respectively. Regularly, more women than men were treated, median age annually was 57, 54, and 55 years, respectively (Table 1). The radiotherapy scheme was not modified within the evaluated period.


RESULTS
The proportion of nonmalignant diseases among all patients treated decreased from 4.7% in 2002 to 3.3% in 2004 and 2.2% in 2005, respectively. A shift was noticed toward the treatment of four main diseases (endocrine orbitopathy, prevention of heterotopic ossification, meningeoma, tendinitis, Table 2). The number of referring physicians decreased from 19 to six.


CONCLUSIONS
Due to administrative restrictions for treatment in hospitals, budget restrictions in private practices and lasting, insufficient revenues for radiotherapy in nonmalignant diseases, radiation therapy for the entire group of benign diseases is endangered.
Schultze
Jürgen
J
Klinik für Strahlentherapie (Radioonkologie), Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Campus Kiel, Kiel. schultze@onco.uni-kiel.de
Eilf
Kirsten
K