Radiation Therapy in Osteoarthritis Treatment

Safety Concerns and Guideline Recommendations

• Radiation therapy has been associated with increased risk of malignancies, particularly leukemia and cancers at irradiated sites, with a relative risk of 2.74 for leukemia and 1.26 for cancers at irradiated sites 1
• The American College of Rheumatology recommends non-pharmacological approaches, such as exercise and weight management, as standard therapies for osteoarthritis management, with a strength of evidence supporting these interventions 2, 3
• The American College of Rheumatology also recommends pharmacological treatments, including NSAIDs and acetaminophen, as standard therapies for osteoarthritis management, with a strength of evidence supporting these interventions 2, 4, 5
• For moderate-to-severe osteoarthritis not responding to conservative management, joint replacement surgery may be considered rather than radiation therapy, according to the American College of Rheumatology guidelines 2