Conference proceeding
External radiotherapy in macular degeneration: Technique and preliminary subjective response
RADIOTHERAPY OF OCULAR DISEASE, v 30, pp 247-252
01 Jan 1997
PMID: 9205907
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is the leading cause of adult blindness in industrialized nations [1-3]. ARMD occurs in two defined forms: an atrophic or 'dry' form that affects approximately 85% of the cases [3] and a 'wet' form. The wet-type macular degeneration occurs in 15% of these patients and is caused by subfoveal neovascularization in the choroidal membrane. Leakage and bleeding is common from vessels which causes a build up of tension at the macular region with visual acuity compromise. This disease affects 11% of the population between the ages of 65 and 74 and 27.9% in those older than 74 years. Better health and nutritional management continues to increase the average age of the United States population. It is estimated by the United States Census Bureau that the segment of the population 85 years and older will be 5 million by the year 2000 ana. triple this amount by the middle of the next century [1]. Since ARMD is a disease that is increasing in frequency with age it will be an even greater health problem in the future. Ophthalmologists throughout the world have tried various treatment modalities to stop ARMD, also called choroidal neovascular membrane proliferation, with very limited success. Some of the attempted therapies include surgery, interferon, laser, and irradiation. The Macular Photocoagulation Group (MPSG) reported on their findings in treating foveal and perifoveal neovascular regions with laser [4]. They concluded that an immediate decrease in vision occurs with a longer time of visual function. Extrafoveal CNVM is amenable to laser treatment. For lesions in the submacular region there is a reluctance by ophthalmologists to treat with laser due to the poor outcome when complications are considered. In 1993. Chakravarthy et al. [2] published results using low-dose irradiation for the treatment of wet-type macular degeneration in 19 patients. The results were encouraging with 68-77% of the patients experiencing visual acuity stabilization or improvement. This report was followed by other supporting data from other institutions using irradiation for stabilizing the vision in age-related wet-type macular degeneration.
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Details
- Title
- External radiotherapy in macular degeneration: Technique and preliminary subjective response
- Creators
- J FreireW A LongtonC T MiyamotoL W BradyJ AugsburgerG BrownB MicailyR Unda
- Contributors
- T Wiegel (Editor)N Bornfeld (Editor)M H Foerster (Editor)W Hinkelbein (Editor)
- Publication Details
- RADIOTHERAPY OF OCULAR DISEASE, v 30, pp 247-252
- Series
- Frontiers of Radiation Therapy and Oncology
- Publisher
- Karger
- Number of pages
- 6
- Resource Type
- Conference proceeding
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Radiation Oncology (and Nuclear Medicine)
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:A1997BH80Y00029
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-0030629527
- Other Identifier
- 991019169794504721
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InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Web of Science research areas
- Oncology
- Ophthalmology
- Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging