Surgical and strontium treatment of pterygium: recurrence and lens changes. Age statistics.

The results of a study of 975 pterygia treated surgically and immediately with Strontium 90 are presented. The recurrence rate (quiescent) was 6%. The actual recurrence requiring surgery was 0.82%. Technique of removal involves simple wide excision and immediate treatment with Strontium 90 over the entire area. Three thousand RADS is the maximum dosage. In most instances more than 3000 RADS is cataractogenic. Two methods of Strontium 90 production are discussed. Strontium 90 has a half life of 19.9 plus or minus .3 years. It decomposes to Yttrium 90 which has a half life of 62 hours. Tissue penetration is estimated by the use of polystyrene absorber which is considered to be a tissue equivalent. Age and sex occurrence is given from a survey of 832 patients. Newer developments that might replace Strontium 90 are briefly discussed.