External-beam radiation therapy for age-related macular degeneration: two years' follow-up results at a total dose of 20 Gy in 10 fractions.
OBJECTIVE
The efficacy of external-beam radiation therapy (RT) was evaluated in the treatment of eyes with subfoveal or juxtafoveal choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration (ARMD).


METHODS
Twenty-one eyes of 18 patients with occult or mixed-type ARMD received a total dose of 20 Gy of 6 MV X-rays in 10 fractions. The follow-up time was 24 months. Fifteen non-treated eyes of 13 patients who had been followed served as a control.


RESULTS
In the RT group, visual acuity was improved in three eyes, maintained in 14 eyes, and worsened in four eyes. In the control group, it was not improved in any eyes, was maintained in six eyes, and worsened in nine eyes. The improved or maintained rate in visual acuity was 81% in the RT group and 40% in the control group (p=0.0342). In the RT group, fundoscopic and angiographic findings were improved in five eyes, unchanged in seven eyes, and worsened in nine eyes, while they were not improved in any eyes, unchanged in two eyes, and worsened in 13 eyes in the control group(p=0.0342).


CONCLUSIONS
RT at a total dose of 20 Gy in 10 fractions is effective for ARMD for at least two years. RT may be effective treatment for occult or mixed-type ARMD compared with the classic type.
Churei
Hisahiko
H
Department of Radiology, Kagoshima University Hospital, Kagoshima University Hospital, Sakuragaoka, Kagoshimashi, Kagoshima, Japan.
Ohkubo
Kouichi
K
Nakajo
Masayuki
M
Hokotate
Hirohumi
H
Baba
Yasutaka
Y
Ideue
Junichi
J
Miyagawa
Katsuya
K
Nakayama
Hirohumi
H
Hiraki
Yoshiyuki
Y
Kitasato
Takuya
T
Yabe
Nobuyuki
N
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000532:radiotherapy; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000528:radiation effects