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

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.