[Radiotherapy of non-neoplastic diseases: the situation in Piedmont]

The authors report the results of a census among the Piedmont region radiation therapy departments during the period 1980-1991 concerning non antineoplastic radiotherapy. Eight out of eleven centers respond to the questionnaire. During the period considered 36,480 patients were treated, with an annual mean of 4056; the number of treated patients varies from 1.2% to over 71.3% in the different centers when compared to the number of neoplastic patients. Arthrosis, osseous angioma, cheloides and verruca were the most treated diseases. Plesioroentgentherapy and roentgentherapy were normally employed; telecesium and telecobalt therapy were also used; only two centers used electron beams or brachytherapy. The doses of radiotherapy were not uniform; also patients' information and follow-up criteria were quite different in the various centers. The authors conclude with a guidelines for future radiotherapy in benign diseases.