RISK OF CHRONIC PROGRESSIVE RADIATION MYELOPATHY

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 152  (4) , 363-372
Abstract
Five cancer patients of chronic radiation myelopathy (4 of the thoracic and 1 of the cervical cord) are presented together with a short summary of cases already published. The important influence of the fractionation scheme is stressed. A dose not exceeding 4400 rads in the thoracic myelon (20 .times. 2000 rads, 5 times/wk, plus 10 .times. 40 rads - or 15 .times. 200 rads plus 15 .times. 90 rads 5 times wk, or 8 .times. 330 rads 3 times/week, plus 15 .times. 80 rads 5 times/week) is considered to be a safe limit. In view of the scarcity of adequately documented cases of cervical myelopathy dose limits should be about 10% lower than in the thoracic region and high single doses should be avoided in curative treatments. Hypertension may increase the risk of radiation myelopathy.

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