PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to assess the @entity137 and possible benefits from the administration of low-dose external-beam irradiation for @entity1020 ( @entity1020 ). The premise of the treatment is that radiation induces regression and/or promotes inactivation of the subretinal neo-vasculature, resulting in reabsorption of fluid and blood thus reducing the risk for further leakage or @entity548 , as well as subretinal @entity82 . Clinically, the beneficial effect could be translated into stabilization of visual acuity and prevention of progression of the wet type of @entity1020 with the possibility for some visual improvement. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Allegheny University Hospitals, Hahnemann, Department of Radiation Oncology, treated 278 @entity1 prospectively beginning in January 1995 with low-dose irradiation for wet-type @entity1020 . Two hundred forty-nine @entity1 were treated with a total dose of 14.40 Gy in eight fractions of 1.80 Gy over 10-13 elapsed days, and 27 @entity1 with 20 Gy at 2 Gy per fraction over 12-15 days. The first two @entity1 were treated to a total dose of 10.00 Gy in five fractions of 2.00 Gy. @entity1 were evaluated at 2-3 weeks and 2-3 months. A percentage (36.7%) of the @entity1 had previously received laser treatments in the study eye, 21.9% once, 5% twice, 9.7% three or more. Subjective visual acuity and @entity137 data was collected on all @entity1 . RESULTS: At 2-3 weeks after treatment 195 @entity1 (70%) retained their visual acuity without change, 68 @entity1 (24.5%) stated they had improved vision, and 15 @entity1 (4.8%) stated their vision continued to decrease. Two to 3 months after treatment, 183 @entity1 (65.8%) had no change in their vision, 75 @entity1 (27%) had an improvement in their vision, and 20 @entity1 (7.2%) had a decrease in visual acuity. Transient acute reactions occurred in 14 of the 278 @entity1 treated. CONCLUSION: Our observations in this group of 278 @entity1 support the conclusion that many @entity1 will have improved or stable vision after treatment with low-dose irradiation for age related wet type @entity1020 .

Radiation therapy for XXXX : technical considerations and preliminary results.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['Patients', 'patients'] @entity137 :: ('MESH:D064420', 'Disease') :: ['toxicity'] @entity82 :: ('MESH:D005355', 'Disease') :: ['fibrosis'] @entity548 :: ('MESH:D006470', 'Disease') :: ['bleeding'] @entity1020 :: ('MESH:D008268', 'Disease') :: ['macular degeneration', 'Age-Related Macular Degeneration', 'ARMD']
@entity1020 :: (MESH:D008268,Disease) :: ['macular degeneration']
