Re: help wanted

[Chris Alston <alstonc@odrge.odr.georgetown.edu>]

>>Taras Kuzin wrote:
>
>>I am trying to locate US facilities which use low energy radiation to treat
>>macular degeneration.
>>In addition, I would like to hear your opinion about effectiveness and
>>future of this type of treatment.  As of today, the majority of the comments
>>that I've heard about this treatment were negative.  If you treated this eye
>>disease with radiation and had positive results could you please share your
>>experience with me?
>>
>>Lastly, I learned that both electron and proton beams can be use to treat
>>macular degeneration.
>>Is there any difference in end results of these two beams?  If yes, what is
>>it?
>
>Well, I couldn't resist staying away from the listserver and this looks
>like a good query for me to jump in on.
>
>The Indiana University Cyclotron Facility has begun a program for treatment
>of macular degeneration (MD) with proton beams. This is done in
>collaboration with the IU Medical School, Dept of Radiation Oncology.
>Contact Chuck Bloch, Ph.D. at IUCF, Bloomington Indiana
>
>Both Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, CA and a collaboration of the
>Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and the
>Harvard Cyclotron Laboratory have reported initial clinical trials using
>proton beams to treat MD. Contact Jerry Slater MD at Loma Linda or John
>Munzenrider MD at MGH (Boston).
>
>An additional novelty is a device manufactured by the Photoelectron Co. of
>Lexington, Massachusetts. They have a 50 kV photon device which can be
>inserted into the eye to deliver the radiation. They are talking with
>clinical sites now to get a trial going. Contact Alan Sliski at
>Photoelectron.
>
>The advantage of the proton beam is the dose localization capability. One
>should note that "Wet Type" Macular Degeneration has been shown to be
>controlled (and this is actually somewhat controversial amongst
>Ophthamologists) with radiation. My understanding is that Wet Type
>constitutes something like 30% of all MD.
>
>A panel discussion was held at last year's ASTRO meeting "Should Radiation
>Be Used to Treat Macular Degeneration?" See IJROBP vol 39,2 supplement p 36.
>
>
>
>
>Kenneth P. Gall, PhD.
>Director, Division of Physics and Dosimetry
>Department of Radiation Oncology
>University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
>5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
>Dallas, Texas 75235-9122
>
>Gall@simmons.swmed.edu
>Phone (214) 648-7155
>Fax   (214) 648-7656
>
>                    *****
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>
Chris Alston
alstonc@odrge.odr.georgetown.edu
I am not here a representative of my employer.

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