Radiotherapy in emergency treatment of malignant exophthalmos

18 patients with severe Graves' ophthalmopathy were treated with retrobulbar irradiation. 14/18 (78%) had at least a satisfactory immediate result to the radiotherapy, and every fourth patient had a good late result with normal eyes. A total depth dose of about 4000 cGy, with about 350 cGy daily fraction dose, and a total depth dose of about 2000 cGy, with about 200 cGy daily fraction dose, gave equal immediate and late results according to the exophthalmos. One patient lost her vision and is discussed in detail in the light of the literature.