title: Randomized clinical trial of postoperative strontium-90 radiation therapy for pterygia: treatment using 30 Gy/3 fractions vs. 40 Gy/4 fractions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Postoperative adjuvant treatment with strontium-90 radiation therapy (RT) is a proven technique for reducing the recurrence of pterygium. This randomized trial was conducted to evaluate whether a total dose of 40 Gy provides a better local control rate than a total dose of 30 Gy for surgically resected pterygia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single institutional randomized trial was conducted. Between 1999 and 2003, 74 pterygia in 71 patients were randomly allocated to 30 Gy/3 fractions/15 days (arm A) or to 40 Gy/4 fractions/22 days (arm B). Only primary pterygia for which RT could be started within 3 days of surgical resection were included. Postoperative RT was given by a strontium-90 eye applicator, and a dose of 10 Gy per fraction was delivered in weekly fractions (day 1, 8, 15, 22).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 74 pterygia treated, 73 in 70 patients were analyzed. Of the 73 pterygia, 41 were allocated to arm A, and the remaining 32 to arm B. The 2-year local control rates for arm A and arm B were 85% and 75%, respectively, without significant difference. No serious acute and late complications were noted in either arm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our new standard fractionation for postoperative RT for pterygia is 30 Gy/3 fractions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Kinki University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka, Japan. kiyoshi@med.kindai.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakamatsu
authors.forename: Yasumasa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: Shuichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kanamori
authors.forename: Ryuta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Koike
authors.forename: Izumi
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tachibana
authors.forename: Tatsuyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishikawa
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shibata
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011625:Pterygium / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D013326:Strontium Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D013326:Strontium Radioisotopes