Degenerative Effects of Large Doses of Roentgen Rays on the Human Brain

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Abstract
Case reports of 6 patients showing definite symptoms of brain damage following intensive irradiation with X-rays for brain tumors are given including the detailed histologic findings of the autopsy of 3 cases. The total tumor doses varied between 6,150 r in 32 days and 8,809 r in 106 days. In all 3 autopsied cases, the pathologic changes were widespread and affected all of the cellular elements. The nerve cells of the cerebral cortex were almost universally degenerated. The neuroglia cells, especially the protoplasmic cells of the cortex, were fragmented and the fibrillary neuroglia cells were swollen. Fat accumulated in the cytoplasm. There was an increase in the number of microglia cells of huge size with their processes laden with fat and greenish pigment. In agreement with the observations of Ellinger on the brain of the common goldfish (Amer. J. Roentgen. and Radium Therapy 47, 775, 1942) the striking damage to the nerve tissue did not have a counterpart in the vascular structures.

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