The effects of ionizing irradiation on the ciliated cells of the central nervous system (CNS) in man--a scanning electron microscopy study.

In order to investigate the effects of radiotherapy on the ciliated ependymal lining of the CNS, samples were taken at autopsy from the lateral ventricles down to the IVth ventricles in patients irradiated for Glioblastoma multiforme in one hemisphere. Doses higher than 20 Gy affected the cilia and the lesions were more pronounced the heavier the dose. No regeneration of cilia were found in those regions which had received more than 20 Gy. In the areas irradiated with 20 - 15 Gy the cilia had a more normal form and cilia irradiated with less than 15 Gy were considered to be normal.