Roentgen Therapy of Orbital-Pituitary Portals for Progressive Exophthalmos Following Subtotal Thyroidectomy

In 1929, Burch (2), discussing a case of progressive exophthalmos following thyroidectomy, mentioned the use of intensive irradiation of the orbits. No improvement was obtained, and the patient lost both eyes from corneal ulceration and destruction. Stewens (15) in 1931 reported the use of a small dose of roentgen rays, which relieved pain in the eye but did not correct the exophthalmos. Merrill and Oaks (8) and Naffziger (11), writing in 1933, mentioned failures of roentgen therapy. According to the latter, in severe cases irradiation has been ineffective or futile. Borak (1), in 1935, advocated irradiation of the pituitary for the cure of Graves' disease, including correction of the exophthalmos, in patients who were refractory to thyroid irradiation. Rudemann (12), in 1937, reported favorable results of irradiation in four cases, at the Cleveland Clinic. In 1936, Thomas and Woods (16) wrote: “In three patients the secondary exophthalmos was so intense that it was necessary to partially suture the exter...