J Korean Soc Ther Radiol.  1986 Dec;4(2):107-114.

The Effect of Total Radiation Dose on Normal Spinal Cord of Hybrid Mice: Early Pathological Changes

• Shon SW
• Kim MS
• Choi WH

Abstract

Radiation myelitis is a rather rare, but irreversible fatal complication, Etiology, pathologic change, clinical symptoms and the method of diagnosis have been studies, pathogenesis of post-irradiation myelitis and the level of tolerance dose still remain controversial. Thoracolumbar spine of 110 hybrid mice were irradiated with orthovoltage x-ray machine. Mild capillary congestion and axonal welling were observed in 1,000rad irradiated specimens were also observed. These results suggest that 5,000 rad is not a completely safe tolerable dose which have been accepted and we cannot exclude direct radiation damage to nerve tissue as the causative pathology of radiation myelitis in addition to blood vessel damage.

Keyword

Acute radiation myelitis; Radiation pathology

MeSH Terms

Animals
Axons
Blood Vessels
Capillaries
Diagnosis
Estrogens, Conjugated (USP)
Mice*
Myelitis
Nerve Tissue
Pathology
Spinal Cord*
Spine
Estrogens, Conjugated (USP)