[Radiation retinopathy in patients treated for sinus and epipharingeal malignancies].
BACKGROUND
Radiation retinopathy is vasculopathy induced by ionising radiation delivered by either brachytherapy or teletherapy for ocular and nonocular malignancies. The first signs of radiation retinopathy typically occur a few months to a few years after the exposure to ionizing radiation.


METHODS
In the 3 of our patients, changes like capillary telangiectasia, microaneurysms, intraretinal hemorrhages, hard exudation, and capillary nonperfusion showed a clinical picture of macular edema. Two of the patients were suspected of diabetic retinopathy, and 1 patient had optic neuropathy. In our group of patients a latent period was between 3 and 8 years. The incidence of radiation retinopathy increases significantly with the total doses of radiation above 45 Gy, and, thus, it has not been found in the lower doses.


CONCLUSIONS
Radiation retinopathy is a diagnostical and therapentical problem. Clinical picture can be identical to that of diabetic retinopathy suggesting a common pathophysiologic mechanism of the damage to capillary endothelial cells, and the importance of clinical examination, anamnesis and fluorescein angiography.
Kosanović-Jaković
Natalija
N
Klinicki centar Srbije, Institut za ocne bolesti, Beograd.
Risimić
Dijana
D
Petrović
Lidija
L
Milenković
Svetislav
S
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010255:Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011832:Radiation Injuries; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*