Bath and Shower Effect in Spinal Cord: The Effect of Time Interval

Marielle E.P. Philippens*, Lucas A.M. Pop, Andries G. Visser, Wenny J.M. Peeters, Albert J. van der Kogel

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the time dependency of the sensitizing effect of a large low-dose field on a small high-dose field in the rat cervical spinal cord. Methods and materials: Irradiation experiments with a relatively low dose to a large volume (bath, 2 cm, 4 Gy) were combined with high doses to a small volume (shower, 4.7 mm, 26-43 Gy) at intervals of 8 minutes and 3, 12, and 24 hours. Both a functional score defined as motor impairment and a histologic score characterized as white matter necrosis were used as end points. Results: Application of the 4-Gy bath dose resulted in a significant decrease in 50% isoeffective dose (ED50) from 48.7 Gy (small field) to 40.8 Gy. If the interval was extended, the ED50 increased to 44.4 (3 hours) and 44.8 Gy (12 hours), whereas a 24-hour interval resulted in a significant increase to 51.9 Gy. If the histologic end point was considered, the ED50 for all dose-response curves decreased slightly with 0.2 to 2.6 Gy without significantly changing the kinetics. Conclusions: The bath effect as applied in the bath-and-shower experiment lasted for at least 12 hours and disappeared in the 24-hour interval. This time scale clearly deviates from the repair kinetics in spinal cord derived from low-dose-rate and fractionated irradiations.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)514-522
Number of pages9
JournalInternational Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics
Volume73
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Feb 2009

Keywords

  • Dose-volume effects
  • Nonuniform dose distribution
  • Repair
  • Spinal cord
  • White matter necrosis

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