Effects of fast neutrons on rabbits. I. Comparison of pathologic effects of fractionated neutron and photon exposures of the head

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1977 · Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0360-3016(77)90120-1· OSTI ID:6781600

Bradley, E W; Zook, B C; Casarett, G W; Bondelid, R O; Maier, J G; Rogers, C C

Adult New Zealand white rabbits received one of four head irradiation doses of neutrons (mean energy 15 MeV) (1680 to 6720 rad) or photons (4800 to 19,200 rad). Each of the photon dose levels was 2.86 times as large in rad than the corresponding neutron dose level. The fast neutrons were produced at the Naval Research Cyclotron in Washington, D.C. by bombarding a thick beryllium target with 35 MeV deuterons. The photon irradiation was produced by means of a 4 MV linear accelerator at The George Washington University Medical Center. Control rabbits received no irradiation. The neutron and photon rabbits were irradiated twice weekly for 6 weeks, the fractionation schedule in use for treatment of advanced malignancies by the Middle Atlantic Neutron Therapy Association at the time of initiation of this experiment. The onset and severity of skin lesions and mucosal reactions in irradiated regions appeared to be dose dependent and somewhat more severe in photon-irradiated rabbits. Death was commonly caused by complications of mucosal reactions. Three of the 5 rabbits which had received the lowest neutron dose (1680 rad), a dose commonly administered to neutron-irradiated patients, developed invasive and metastasizing osteosarcomas within the irradiated field less than 1 year after completion of irradiation.

• Research Organization: George Washington Univ., Washington, DC
• OSTI ID: 6781600
• Journal Information: Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 2:11-12; ISSN IOBPD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560152* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Animals
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
BARYONS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BLOOD VESSELS
BODY
BODY AREAS
BRAIN
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISEASES
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
EXTERNAL IRRADIATION
FAST NEUTRONS
FERMIONS
FRACTIONATED IRRADIATION
HADRONS
HEAD
IONIZING RADIATIONS
IRRADIATION
LARYNX
MAMMALS
MUCOUS MEMBRANES
NECROSIS
NEOPLASMS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NEUTRONS
NUCLEONS
ORAL CAVITY
ORGANS
OSTEOSARCOMAS
PARTIAL BODY IRRADIATION
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PHARYNX
RABBITS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RADIOINDUCTION
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SARCOMAS
SKELETAL DISEASES
SKELETON
SKIN
SKULL
VERTEBRATES
X RADIATION