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PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
2
pubmed:dateCreated
1992-10-22
pubmed:abstractText
Although postoperative beta irradiation for prevention of pterygium recurrence is widely used, its complication rate has not been widely appreciated. Thirty-six patients underwent pterygium excision followed by irradiation with 90Sr to between 1600 and 5300 cGy (median 2400) in two to four fractions over 7 to 27 days. A median of three fields were used in each treatment course (range two to 10). Most patients had undergone previous treatment for their pterygia, including surgery alone (25 patients), or both surgery and irradiation (5 patients). Overall, recurrences developed in 10 eyes (28%). Recurrence occurred in one eye after re-irradiation (20%), compared to 9 of 31 (29%) previously non-irradiated eyes (p greater than 0.1). There was no association with number of excisions and recurrences, although all but 6 patients had undergone more than one excision. Thirteen patients (36%) developed complications including: epithelial defect or corneal thinning (3), symblepharon (5), cataract (4) and corneal ulceration (1). Complications developed in 4 of the 5 (80%) re-irradiated eyes compared to 9 of 31 (29%) previously non-irradiated eyes (p less than 0.05). The power of the statistical analysis was limited by sample size, but no significant association was observed between the development of complications or recurrences and total dose, number of abutting fields, number of previous surgical excisions or patient age, even when re-irradiated patients were excluded. Recently described calibration uncertainties with the 90Sr applicator may explain in part these complications. Alternatively, technical factors such as the number of fields or volume treated may play a role. Excessive complications and recurrences with the use of postoperative beta irradiation in this series emphasize the danger of re-treatment and the need for alternative safe and effective therapies.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:issn
0360-3016
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
24
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
315-20
pubmed:dateRevised
2009-11-19
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1992
pubmed:articleTitle
Beta irradiation of recurrent ptergia: results and complications.
pubmed:affiliation
Dept. of Therapeutic Radiology-Radiation Oncology, University of Minnesota Hospital, Minneapolis 55455.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article