Results of adjuvant radiation therapy after surgical excision of pterygium.

The aim of the present study was the evaluation of the role of adjuvant radiation therapy in the prevention of recurrence after excision. Between July 1, 1985, and April 1, 1993, 64 patients (43 men, 21 women) were referred for radiation therapy after excision of a nasal pterygium. All patients were followed for 1-9 years (median 5.5 years). Radiation therapy was done with a strontium 90 eye applicator at a total dose of 30 Gy fractionated into six fractions of 5 Gy each. In all, 49 patients were treated after their first excision and 15 patients had undergone multiple prior excisions. In 8 of 64 irradiated patients, recurrent pterygium was detected (12.5%); 4 recurrences developed after first excision and adjuvant radiation therapy (8.16%) and the other 4, following multiple former reexcisions and radiotherapy (26.7%). Pterygium did not recur in any of the primarily treated patients who were irradiated within 3 days of surgery. In contrast, 3 of 7 accordingly treated patients (42.9%) who started radiation therapy at between 7 and 10 days after surgery developed recurrent pterygium. Adjuvant radiation therapy after excision of pterygium lowers the overall rate of recurrence to 12.5%. In an adjuvant situation after first excision, radiation therapy should be initiated within 3 days of surgery, the result being freedom from recurrence.