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Title:
PROTON IRRADIATION OF THE PITUITARY AND ITS METABOLIC EFFECTS ( REPRINTED FROM RADIOLOGY, VOL. 68, NO. 6, PAGES 797-811, JUNE, 1957 ) (PARTIAL)
Author(s):
MCCOMBS, R K [UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY]
Subject Terms:
HREX
Document Location:
Location - DOE/NNSA NUCLEAR TESTING ARCHIVE Address - P.O. Box 98521 City - Las Vegas State - NV Zip - 89193-8521 Phone - (702)794-5106 Fax - (702)862-4240 Email - NTA@NV.DOE.GOV
Document Type:
JOURNAL ARTICLE
Publication Date:
1957 Jun 30
Declassification Status:
Never classified
Document Pages:
0015
Accession Number:
NV0702355
OpenNet Entry Date:
1994 Aug 27
OpenNet Modified Date:
2017 Dec 21
Description/Abstract:
THE PURPOSE OF THIS REPORT IS TO STUDY THE METABOLIC EFFECT OF PROTON IRRADIATION OF THE PITUITARY GLAND. DEUTERON AND PROTON BEAMS HAVE SEVERAL DISTINCT PROPERTIES NOT POSSESSED BY X-RAYS OR GAMMA RAYS. FIRST THEY CAN BE COLLIMATED VERY FINELY, AND CAN CREATED LESIONS OF 1.0 MM IN DIAMETER. SECONDLY, AS THE PARTICLES PENETRATE, THEIR SCATTERING IS SO SMALL (COMPARED TO ELECTRONS) THAT FOR PRACTICAL PURPOSES, NO RADIATION FALLS OUTSIDE THE MAIN BEAM TO IRRADIATE NEIGHBORING TISSUES. BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1954 AND SEPTEMBER 1955, 26 PATIENTS WITH METASTIC BREAST CANCER RECEIVED PITUITARY IRRADIATION. PROTON IRRADIATION OF THE PITUITARY WAS GIVEN IN FRACTIONATED DOSES, THREE TIMES WEEKLY. A FEW WEEKS FOLLOWING COMPLETION OF IRRADIATION, 5 PATIENTS, THOSE RECEIVING THE HEAVIEST IRRADIATION, EXPERIENCED SEVERE HEAD PAINS LASTING FOR A FEW DAYS. TWO PATIENTS SURVIVED FOR SIXTEEN MONTHS AFTER IRRADIATION. ONE IS STILL IN REMISSION; THE OTHER HAD A REMISSION FOR NEARLY A YEAR AND IS NOW FAILING.