Carcinoma of limbus; report of 19 cases treated with radium and effect of gamma radiation upon eye.

Abstract

THERE has been considerable recent interest on the part of dermatologists as to the long-term effects of x-ray and radium therapy used under varying conditions. The absence of undesirable sequelae from x-ray therapy as employed in the treatment of acne vulgaris has been reported by both Crawford 1 and Sulzberger 2 and their respective associates. Callaway 3 and his co-workers investigated the tolerance of the gonads to x-rays. Lehmann and Pipkin 4 have summarized their results with interstitial radium therapy, and Alden, Jones, and Rankin5 have recorded 15 years' experience in treating inflammatory diseases of the eye with moderate doses of x-rays. This report deals with carcinoma of the limbus treated with cancerocidal doses of radium. During the past 20 years, 19 patients with such cancers have been treated This experience has given us the opportunity of studying the effect of gamma radiation upon the eye. The majority