Prospective study of exclusive strontium-/yttrium-90 beta-irradiation of primary and recurrent pterygia with no prior surgical excision. Clinical outcome of long-term follow-up.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the consecutive treatment results regarding pterygium recurrence and the efficacy of exclusive strontium-/yttrium-90 beta-irradiation for primary and recurrent pterygia and to analyze the functional outcome.


METHODS
Between October 1974 and December 2005, 58 primary and 21 recurrent pterygia were exclusively treated with strontium-/yttrium-90 beta-irradiation with doses ranging from 3,600 to 5,500 cGy. The follow-up time was 46.6 +/- 26.7 months, with a median of 46.5 months.


RESULTS
The treatment led to a size reduction in all pterygia (p < 0.0001). Neither recurrences nor side effects were observed during therapy and follow-up in this study. Best-corrected visual acuity increased (p = 0.0064). Corneal astigmatism was reduced in recurrent pterygia (p = 0.009).


CONCLUSIONS
Exclusive strontium-/yttrium-90 beta-irradiation of pterygia is a very efficient and well-tolerated treatment, with remarkable aesthetic and rehabilitative results in comparison to conventional treatments, especially for recurrent lesions which have undergone prior surgical excision.
Vastardis
Iraklis
I
Ophthalmology Clinic Pallas, Olten, Switzerland. vastardis.iraklis@gmail.com
Pajic
Bojan
B
Greiner
Richard H
RH
Pajic-Eggspuehler
Brigitte
B
Aebersold
Daniel M
DM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000532:radiotherapy; D001610:Beta Particles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011625:Pterygium / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012008:Recurrence; D019233:Retreatment; D013326:Strontium Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000528:radiation effects; D015021:Yttrium Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D013326:Strontium Radioisotopes; D015021:Yttrium Radioisotopes