Low-dose radiation therapy is available at hospitals across the United States — yet most arthritis patients have never heard of it. We are here to change that.
Learn About the Treatment Find a Hospital Near YouRheumatologists manage arthritis. Radiation oncologists deliver radiation. These two specialties rarely connect around this treatment, so it rarely gets mentioned to patients.
Low-dose radiation therapy for joint inflammation has been used in Europe for decades. The evidence exists — it simply hasn't reached most US patients or their primary care doctors.
Major US hospitals — including Penn Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, and Yale — have begun offering LDRT for arthritis. The treatment is available, but awareness lags far behind.
You may be a candidate for low-dose radiation therapy if any of the following apply to you:
Many patients — and even some primary care doctors — have not yet heard of this treatment. That does not mean it is experimental. It has been used safely for decades and is now growing across the United States.
A student-led patient education initiative dedicated to closing the arthritis treatment awareness gap
Low-dose radiation therapy for arthritis is available at hospitals across the United States. Major academic medical centers — including Penn Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, and Yale — have begun offering it. The treatment has decades of use in Europe.
Yet most arthritis patients — including elderly patients who may benefit most — have never heard of it. Their primary care doctors often have not either.
Radiant Joint Alliance exists to bridge that gap — one patient, one community, one conversation at a time.
All educational materials are reviewed by a licensed physician. This campaign does not promote or endorse any specific hospital, physician, or treatment provider.
What low-dose radiation therapy for arthritis is, how it works, and who it may help
Low-dose radiation therapy (LDRT) is a non-surgical, outpatient treatment that uses a very small, carefully targeted amount of radiation directed at an arthritic joint. The goal is to reduce inflammation in the joint lining, which is a primary source of arthritis pain.
The radiation dose used is far smaller than what is used to treat cancer. Treatments are typically delivered in a series of short sessions, each taking only minutes.
No hospital stay is required. Patients go home the same day.
Patients with degenerative joint disease, particularly in the knees, hips, and hands, who have not found full relief from medications or injections.
Including rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory conditions where joint inflammation causes persistent pain.
Patients for whom joint replacement is not yet an option — whether due to age, health conditions, or personal preference.
This page is for educational purposes only. Low-dose radiation therapy is not appropriate for every patient. Please speak with your doctor or care team about whether this treatment is right for your specific situation.
US hospitals currently known to offer low-dose radiation therapy for arthritis
This list is provided for informational purposes only and may not be complete. Always call the hospital directly to confirm current availability. Ask to speak with the Radiation Oncology department.
| Hospital | City, State | Department to Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Allegheny Health Network (AHN) Cancer Institute | Pittsburgh, PA | Radiation Oncology |
| CentraState Medical Center | Freehold, NJ | Radiation Oncology |
| City of Hope — Santa Clarita | Santa Clarita, CA | Radiation Oncology |
| Cleveland Clinic (enterprise-wide) | Ohio / Florida | Radiation Oncology |
| Compass Oncology | Portland, OR / Vancouver, WA | Radiation Oncology |
| EHS / St. John's Episcopal Hospital | New York, NY | Radiation Oncology |
| Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center | Flemington, NJ | Radiation Oncology |
| Loyola Medicine | Maywood / Tinley Park, IL | Radiation Oncology |
| Minnesota Oncology | Maplewood, MN | Radiation Oncology |
| Missouri Cancer Associates | Columbia / Marshall / Kirksville, MO | Radiation Oncology |
| Morristown Medical Center | Morristown, NJ | Radiation Oncology |
| North Cascade Cancer Center | Washington State | Radiation Oncology |
| OSF Danville | Danville, IL | Radiation Oncology |
| Overlook Medical Center | Summit, NJ | Radiation Oncology |
| Penn Medicine — Penn Presbyterian Medical Center | Philadelphia, PA | Radiation Oncology |
| Shaw Cancer Center / Vail Health | Edwards, CO | Radiation Oncology |
| Spectrum Healthcare Partners | Maine (6 locations) / Portsmouth, NH | Radiation Oncology |
| SUNY Upstate Medical University | Syracuse, NY | Radiation Oncology |
| UCLA Health | Los Angeles, CA | Radiation Oncology |
| University of Maryland Medical System | Baltimore, MD | Radiation Oncology |
| UPMC Hillman Cancer Center | Pittsburgh, PA | Radiation Oncology |
| Virginia Oncology Associates | Virginia Beach / Hampton / Norfolk, VA | Radiation Oncology |
Questions, partnerships, or requests to bring our presentation to your community
We offer free educational presentations at senior centers, assisted living facilities, churches, libraries, and community health fairs. To request a presentation, reach out to us directly.
We welcome partnerships with healthcare providers, senior organizations, patient advocacy groups, and community organizations who share our commitment to patient education.
Healthcare providers and community organizations can request printed patient education flyers to display in waiting rooms, common areas, or distribute at events.
Journalists and health writers interested in covering the arthritis treatment awareness gap are welcome to reach out. We can connect you with our physician advisor.
Radiant Joint Alliance does not provide medical advice and cannot recommend specific physicians or hospitals. For medical questions, please speak with your doctor or care team.