Intra-articular radiation treatment of rheumatoid synovitis of the ankle with dysprosium-165 ferric hydroxide macroaggregates.

Intra-articular radiation treatment using dysprosium-165 ferric hydroxide macroaggregate has been performed on eight patients with refractory synovitis of the ankle. Seventy-five percent (six patients) responded well to the treatment, and there were no complications from the injection. Although ankle synovectomy is not often indicated, those patients with rheumatoid synovitis without significant joint destruction respond favorably to radiation treatment.