Radiotherapy can slow the growth of benign tumors. In some cases, radiotherapy may be able to shrink or eliminate a benign tumor.

Radiotherapy is often associated with cancer treatment, but it can also be used to treat benign (noncancerous) tumors as well as some thyroid diseases and blood disorders.

Although benign tumors will not invade other portions of the body they can grow large, compressing structures and causing pain.

Radiotherapy can prevent or slow growth in benign tumors. In some cases, it can even shrink and eliminate benign tumors.

Benign tumors differ from cancerous tumors in that they stay in their primary location and may never cause problems.

Occasionally benign tumors may grow in ways that cause pain or limit bodily functions. Some benign tumors can also become malignant. In both of these cases, treatment is necessary.

Radiotherapy is one treatment option for problematic benign tumors. Radiation therapy may be used to prevent further growth of benign tumors.

Radiation treatments can also successfully shrink or eliminate some benign tumors. If a benign tumor becomes cancerous, it may need to be treated with radiotherapy in combination with other forms of treatment like surgery and chemotherapy.

In forming a treatment recommendation for a tumor, healthcare professionals will heavily weigh the type, location, and size of the tumor.

When determining whether they should treat a benign tumor with radiotherapy, doctors will also consider the age and overall health of a patient to determine whether radiotherapy is better than other treatment options.

The types of benign tumors that healthcare professionals can treat with radiotherapy are extensive and varied. Some examples of benign tumors and conditions that can be treated with radiotherapy include:

  • pterygium (a growth on the eye)
  • keloids (overgrowths of scar tissue)
  • enthesopathies (disorder of the connective tissues between bones and tendons or ligaments)
  • glomus tumors (tumors in the neuroendocrine tissues that commonly appear in the head and neck)
  • juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibromas (tumor that grows in the nasal cavity of adolescents)

Many of the same radiotherapy processes used on malignant tumors may be used on benign tumors. Radiotherapy for benign tumors may be applied externally or internally depending on the type of tumor and its location in the body.

One big difference in the treatment of benign tumors from malignant tumors is that the radiation dose may be lower.

While many malignant tumors are treated with doses of radiotherapy greater than 50 Gy, benign tumors are often treated with lower doses between 3 and 50 Gy.

In the future, more studies are necessary to better understand the best radiation doses for many specific benign conditions.

Side effects from radiotherapy can include:

  • sore skin
  • fatigue
  • hair loss
  • loss of appetite
  • lack of interest in sex
  • stiff joints and muscles

Depending on where radiotherapy is applied, you may also experience:

  • nausea
  • diarrhea
  • pain when swallowing
  • infertility

In addition to radiotherapy, healthcare professionals may treat benign tumors with:

  • surgery
  • immunotherapy
  • medications (steroids, hormone treatments, etc.)

Some small benign tumors may not require immediate treatment. In these cases, doctors may recommend a watch and see approach to determine if the tumor continues growing or becomes malignant.

Radiotherapy may be used to help treat benign tumors. It can slow or prevent the growth of these tumors.

In some cases, it can also help to shrink the tumor. Although similar radiotherapy processes are used, lower levels of radiotherapy may be used on benign tumors than on malignant ones.

If you have a benign tumor, your doctor will consider many factors when making a treatment recommendation. They will weigh the size and location of the tumor as well as your age and general health.

It’s important to talk with your doctor about your various treatment options and the side effects you may experience.