Radiotherapy for Graves’ ophthalmopathy

The interest in the treatment of benign diseases with radiation therapy has grown particularly in the Western part of the world. In 1996, a questionnaire was sent to 1348 institutes worldwide listed in the directory of the Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology asking whether the respondents considered a list of 28 most common benign disorders as being a good indication for orbital radiotherapy.1 Questions concerned the frequency of such treatments and the treatment schedules used. The prevention of keloid formation was the most widely accepted indication, followed by Graves’ ophthalmopathy. Thus, radiotherapy for this orbital disorder is generally accepted and applied worldwide.