Radiation tolerance of the cervical spinal cord

Journal Article · Fri May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981 · Radiology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1148/radiology.139.2.7220892· OSTI ID:5501904

Kim, Y H; Fayos, J V

A total of 109 patients were studied after receiving radiation therapy that included a dose to the spinal cord. In addition to irradiation of the primary site, 59 patients received radiation to the lower neck. Transverse myelopathy developed in three patients; all three had been treated with fields to the lower neck. The dose to the spinal cord at the site of junctional fields was thought to be considerably higher because of the beam divergence from multiple fields employed. The authors stress that prolonged fractionation of treatment, fixation of the head during treatment, precise dosimetry, and close surveillance of the patient are important factors in avoiding radiation myelitis. The authors also stress the importance of controlling divergence of multiple beams by employing appropriate shields.

• OSTI ID: 5501904
• Journal Information: Radiology; (United States), Journal Name: Radiology; (United States) Vol. 139:2; ISSN RADLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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560151 -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Man
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
BODY AREAS
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DISEASES
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
DOSIMETRY
EXTERNAL IRRADIATION
IRRADIATION
MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE
MEDICINE
MYELITIS
NECK
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NERVOUS SYSTEM DISEASES
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
PATIENTS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION PROTECTION
RADIOINDUCTION
RADIOLOGY
RADIOTHERAPY
SPINAL CORD
SURVEILLANCE
THERAPY
TOLERANCE