Radiation tolerance of the cervical spinal cord

Journal Article · Wed Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1989 · Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0360-3016(89)90484-7· OSTI ID:6072837

McCunniff, A J; Liang, M J

The incidence of permanent injury to the spinal cord as a complication of radiation therapy generally correlates positively with total radiation dosage. However, several reports in the literature have indicated that fraction size is also an important factor in the development or nondevelopment of late injuries in normal tissue. To determine the effect of fraction size on the incidence of radiation-induced spinal cord injuries, we reviewed 144 cases of head and neck cancer treated at our institution between 1971 and 1980 with radiation greater than 5600 cGy to a portion of the cervical spinal cord. Most of these patients received greater than or equal to 6000 cGy, with fraction sizes ranging from 133 cGy to 200 cGy. Fifty-three of the 144 patients have been followed up for 2 years or more. Nearly half of these (26 patients) received greater than 6000 cGy with fraction sizes of 133 cGy to 180 cGy. Only 1 of the 53 (1.9%) has sustained permanent spinal cord injury; 20 months after completion of radiation treatments he developed Brown-Sequard syndrome. Our experience suggests that radiation injuries to the spinal cord correlate not only with total radiation dosage, but also with fraction size; low fraction sizes appear to decrease the incidence of such injuries.

• Research Organization: Wake Forest Univ., Winston-Salem, NC (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6072837
• Journal Information: Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States), Vol. 16:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
RADIOTHERAPY
SIDE EFFECTS
SPINAL CORD
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
FRACTIONATED IRRADIATION
HEAD
NECK
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MEDICINE
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560151* - Radiation Effects on Animals- Man