Radiation therapy in the treatment of non-malignant diseases

Experience in the use of ionizing radiation in non-malignant pathology has more than 100 years. At the beginning and middle of the last century, radiation therapy was widely used for many inflammatory, endocrine, skin, proliferative, and degenerative diseases. Advances in pharmacology and surgery, as well as radiophobia spreading among doctors and the public, have reduced the scope of the method. However, the growing cost of drug therapy, the complications associated with its use, the achievement of the limits of surgical possibilities, make it appropriate to address the retrospective review of the experience of using ionizing radiation for the treatment of non- malignant diseases and its possible rebranding. In comparison with existing methods of treatment for a number of diseases, radiation therapy has the advantages of higher economic and clinical efficiency, comparative simplicity and accessibility. The analysis of the information available in the literature shows that for a number of skin, proliferative, metabolic-dystrophic, and infectiousdiseases, radiation therapy can and should be used with proper observance of indications and contraindications.