Orbital radiotherapy for thyroid-related orbitopathy.

• Abstract: PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Orbital radiotherapy has been one of the primary treatment modalities for moderate to severe thyroid-related orbitopathy. In this review the authors discuss the role of orbital radiotherapy in this disease with particular emphasis on questions raised by recent studies. RECENT FINDINGS: Despite its widespread use, until recently there have been few well-designed, randomized clinical trials on the role of orbital radiotherapy for thyroid-related orbitopathy. Although most the literature points to a favorable effect of orbital radiotherapy, recent studies have provided us with conflicting results. SUMMARY: Orbital radiotherapy remains a safe and a widely used treatment option for severe and progressive thyroid-related orbitopathy. More randomized clinical trials are needed, especially to examine the role of orbital radiotherapy for severe thyroid-related orbitopathy characterized by severe congestion and/or compressive optic neuropathy with and without the use of corticosteroids. There is a wide consensus among clinicians that this subgroup of patients is the most frequent one to which orbital radiotherapy is offered.
• Authors: Raed Behbehani, Robert C Sergott, Peter J Savino (Affiliation: Neuroophthalmology Service, Wills Eye Hospital, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, USA. r_behehani at hotmail.com)
• Journal: Current opinion in ophthalmology (Curr Opin Ophthalmol) Vol. 15 Issue 6 Pg. 479-82 (Dec 2004) ISSN: 1040-8738 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15523191 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Steroids

Topics

• Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
• Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation
• Graves Disease (drug therapy, radiotherapy)
• Humans
• Incidence
• Orbit (radiation effects)
• Radiation Injuries (epidemiology)
• Steroids (therapeutic use)
• Treatment Outcome