title: Lack of radiation optic neuropathy in 72 patients treated for pituitary adenoma.
abstract: The incidence of radiation optic neuropathy (RON) after external photon beam radiation therapy for nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma (NFA) is not well-studied. Retrospective review of ophthalmological and imaging data in 72 patients with NFA treated between 1985 and 1998 with external beam radiation therapy after surgery Clinical follow-up after radiation therapy had to be at least 18 months. RON was defined as a sudden and profound irreversible visual loss affecting the optic nerve or chiasm A review of previously published cases of RON was then performed. In our cohort, no patient had RON. A total of 11 adequately documented series reports of RON were found in the medical literature on radiation-treated NFAs. The incidence of RON in NFA from these series is 0.53% (95% CI, 0.26%-0.96%). An additional 14 single RON cases have been reported, bringing the total of adequately documented RON cases to 25. RON is a rare complication after external beam radiation therapy for NFA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Groningen, PPO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands. a.c.m.van.den.bergh@rt.azg.nl
authors.forename: Alfons C M
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: van den Bergh
authors.forename: Michiel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Schoorl
authors.forename: Robin P F
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Dullaart
authors.forename: Anton M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: van der Vliet
authors.forename: Ben G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Szabó
authors.forename: Cees A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: ter Weeme
authors.forename: Jan-Willem R
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Pott
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000528:radiation effects*; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011836:Radiation Tolerance; D011878:Radiotherapy; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014794:Visual Fields