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:6501292

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: 6501292
• Journal Information: Radiology; (United States), Journal Name: Radiology; (United States) Vol. 139:2; ISSN RADLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550603 -- Medicine-- External Radiation in Therapy-- (1980-)
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.
BEAM POSITION
BIOLOGICAL SHIELDING
BODY
BODY AREAS
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISEASES
DOSES
GLANDS
LARYNX
MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE
MEDICINE
MYELITIS
NECK
NEOPLASMS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NERVOUS SYSTEM DISEASES
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORGANS
PATIENTS
PHARYNX
RADIATION DOSES
RADIOINDUCTION
RADIOLOGY
RADIOSENSITIVITY
RADIOTHERAPY
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SALIVARY GLANDS
SHIELDING
SIDE EFFECTS
SPINAL CORD
SURVEILLANCE
THERAPY