The radiation response of the cervical spinal cord of the pig: effects of changing the irradiated volume.

PURPOSE

An investigation of the field size effect for the cervical spinal cord of the pig after single doses of gamma-rays. In this study, clinically relevant volumes of the spinal cord were irradiated.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

The effects of the local irradiation of different lengths of the spinal cord (2.5 cm, 5.0 cm, and 10.0 cm) have been evaluated in mature pigs (37-43 weeks). Single doses of 25-31 Gy were given using a 60Co gamma-source, at a dose rate of 0.21-0.30 Gy/min. The incidence of radiation-induced paralysis was used as the endpoint. The data were analyzed using probit analysis and a normal tissue complication probability (NTCP)-model.

RESULTS

Twenty-five animals out of a total of 53 developed paralysis, with histological evidence of parenchymal and vascular changes in their white matter. The slope of the dose-response curves decreased with the decrease in field size; however, there was no significant difference at the radiation dose associated with a 50% incidence of paralysis (ED50) irrespective of the method of analysis. The ED50 values +/- standard errors (+/- SE) were 27.02 +/- 0.36 Gy, 27.68 +/- 0.57 Gy, and 28.28 +/- 0.78 Gy for field lengths of 10, 5, and 2.5 cm, respectively. Analysis of the data with a normal tissue complication probability (NCTP) model gave similar results. The latent period for paralysis was 7.5-16.5 weeks with no significant differences between dose and field size.

CONCLUSION

No significant field size-related differences in response were detectable in the cervical spinal cord of mature pigs after single dose irradiations, specifically at a clinically relevant level of effect (< ED10).