Radiosensitivity of Bone

Abstract

HomeRadiologyVol. 13, No. 1 PreviousNext EditorialRadiosensitivity of BonePublished Online:Jul 1 1929https://doi.org/10.1148/13.1.86MoreSectionsPDF ToolsImage ViewerAdd to favoritesCiteTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked In AbstractBecause of its hardness and strength, to which characteristics it owes its adaptation to the physiologic function it has to perform, and because of the length of time it can withstand decay and other destructive agencies, bone is commonly considered the most resistant tissue of the body. It is, however, only as properties of dead material that the hardness and strength and resistance of bone are apparent. As a living tissue, bone yields readily to constant pressure, even of softer tissues, by undergoing atrophy and resorption, and it may be quickly destroyed in inflammatory and neoplastic processes.Resistance to radiation has also been ascribed to bone. Older tables of roentgen-ray dosages gave for bone a dose as much as eight times that for the skin of the face. With widespread use of the more deeply penetrating hard roentgen rays, bone has been found to be not immune to injury. Ewing2 has described a form of chronic osteitis following irradiation, a proliferative process which is probably secondary to harm done rather than a primary stimulative reaction. More recently, Wynen3 has discussed the occurrence of late necrosis in bones subjected to therapeutic irradiation by roentgen rays. The process has been noted in the jaw and in bones connected with the exterior by fistulous openings; in the first case in bone easily invaded by bacteria after harm has been done, and in the second case in bone that is already infected but further injured by radiation. Experimentally it was found by Wynen that the rootlets of seedlings were more severely injured when surrounded by bone and subjected to radiation than when surrounded by an equally thick layer of muscle, an action ascribed to the emission of secondary rays by the calcium of the bone. Similar secondary radiation, resulting in the death of individual bone corpuscles and in injury to the capillaries, is held responsible for the harm to bone that may result in late necrosis under the further influence of bacterial invasion. Too intensive irradiation of bone apparently introduces an element of danger which must be borne in mind in the application of the therapeutic procedure. Wynen warns especially against too heavy dosage in the treatment of bone and joint tuberculosis.Similar sensitivity of bone to radiation has been noted by Martland and his collaborators4 as the result of the action of radioactive substances deposited in the bones of painters of luminous dials. In these unfortunates, not properly warned or protected against the hazards of a new occupation, widespread necrosis of the jaw occurred. Here, also, as is the case after roentgen irradiation, secondary bacterial invasion of bone injured by radiation is a factor.Article HistoryPublished in print: July 1929 FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsRecommended Articles RSNA Education Exhibits RSNA Case Collection Vol. 13, No. 1 Metrics Altmetric Score PDF download