Oculo-palpebral lesions following high-speed electron treatment of maxillary sinus tumours

Abstract

This paper deals with oculo-palpebral lesions observed in 3 patients treated for tumours of the maxillary sinus with high-speed electrons from a 35 MeV Betatron, the orbit being included in the irradiated volume. The severity of the lesions described resulted in loss of vision and pain which made enucleation of the irradiated eye necessary. In contrast, irradiation of the same volume with a telecobalt beam using a wedge filter technique in 19 patients kept under observation for a minimum period of one year did not produce significant damage unless wedge filters were arranged in a frontal plan (Stewart's technique) or unless ocular abnormalities due to local or systemic disease were present prior to the commencement of treatment. The authors conclude that whenever it is considered necessary to include the orbit in the volume to be irradiated, the use of telecobalt with a wedge filter technique, is preferable to the use of high-speed electrons.