A common complication in the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma
- Author:
Keat Eu Lim Andrew
;
Lim Shue Lin
;
Hussein Elias
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH:
Human;
Male;
Middle Aged;
NASOPHARYNGEAL NEOPLASMS;
RETINAL NEOVASCULARIZATION;
DIABETIC ANGIOPATHIES;
DIABETIC RETINOPATHY;
;
- From:
Philippine Journal of Ophthalmology
2006;31(2):92-95
- CountryPhilippines
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: To report a case of radiation retinopathy, a common complication in the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
METHOD:This is a case report.
RESULTS:A 59-year-old Chinese man with a history of external beam irradiation for nasopharyngeal carcinoma presented with mild blurring of vision of the left eye.Examination revealed bilateral scattered cotton-wool spots, intraretinal hemorrhages, and microaneurysms.The left eye had peripapillary cotton-wool spots and hemorrhages, disc edema, and semimacular star.Funduscopic findings were similar to those of diabetic retinopathy except for the abundance of cotton-wool spots and the presence of macular star.
CONCLUSION:Radiation retinopathy usually develops 6 months to 3 years after exposure.In this patient, it occurred 2 years after radiotherapy.Neovascularization at the disc developed 15 months after initial presentation, which required treatment with panretinal photocoagulation, resulting in regression of the new vessels.As severe late ocular complications frequently occur after radiation therapy, periodic ophthalmologic examinations should be considered.
