title: Restoration of vision by radiotherapy for severe, acute, steroid-refractory, congestive thyroid orbitopathy.
abstract: We report the case history of a patient treated with radiotherapy for severe acute thyroid orbitopathy that failed to respond to high-dose corticosteroid therapy. The clinical response to irradiation was rapid, dramatic and sustained after extended follow-up. Although radiotherapy has been used in dysthyroid eye disease, there remains debate over the precise indications for and the timing of its utilization. A review of the literature on the use of radiotherapy for acute thyroid orbitopathy has been undertaken, emphasizing its steroid-sparing potential and its role in avoiding the necessity for surgical orbital decompression.
authors.affiliation: Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: MacAndie
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Harnett
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kyle
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000528:radiation effects*
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones