[Radiation therapy for small choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate radiation therapy for age-related macular degeneration with subfoveal or juxtafoveal choroidal neovascularization smaller than or equal to 1 disc area.


METHODS
Nonrandomized comparative clinical trial.


METHODS
Fourteen eyes received a total radiation dose of 10-20 Gy in 5-10 fractions. The mean follow-up time was 22 months. Ten eyes in a control group were followed for an average of 16 months without any treatment.


RESULTS
At a 12-month follow-up examination, funduscopic and angiographic findings had improved in 7 eyes (50%), were unchanged in 1 eye (7%) and, had deteriorated in 6 eyes (43%) among the treated patients. The same findings had improved in 1 eye (10%), were unchanged in 2 eyes (20%), and had deteriorated in 7 eyes (70%) among the control patients. There was a statistically significant difference by Mann-Whitney U test between the two groups. Visual acuity had improved in 4 eyes (29%), was unchanged in 6 eyes (43%), and had declined in 4 eyes (29%) among the treated patients. Among the control patients visual acuity had improved in none of the eyes (0%), was unchanged in 6 eyes (60%), and had declined in 4 eyes (40%). The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant. Of the 7 cases whose fundus had improved by 12 months, 4 cases maintained a favorable status through the following 2 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Radiation therapy had an inhibitory effect on small choroidal neovascularization when viewed by funduscopy and angiography, but, the efficacy for visual prognosis was not always identified.
Department of Ophthalmology, Hirosaki University School of Medicine, Japan.
H
H
Matsuhashi
Y
Y
Noda
D
D
Takahashi
Y
Y
Mariya
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000150:complications / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome