[Results of radiotherapy in case of juvenile xanthogranuloma of the iris].

The juvenile xanthogranuloma is a rare, benign, cutaneous disease occurring in infants and young children which can be situated in about 10% of the cases on the eye and preferentially on the iris. The reason for consulting an ophthalmologist is mostly a recurrent unilateral hyphemia which is typical for this disease. The diagnosis of the juvenile xanthogranuloma has to be established clinically, based on the characteristic alterations of the iris--heterochromia, vascularized tumor or diffuse thickening of the iris--and the possibly increased intraocular pressure. In order to avoid the deleting consequences of an uncontrollable secondary glaucoma, radiotherapy with a total dose of 300 to 400 cGy combined with a mild local steroid treatment has to be undertaken immediately, if possible. Taking into consideration the indications of literature, the value of a low-dose radiotherapy for this disease shall be demonstrated by five own cases in all of which the concerned eye could be healed and preserved.