Transient radiation myelopathy: spinal somatosensory evoked responses following incidental cord exposure during radiotherapy.

Abstract

Serial spinal somatosensory evoked potentials were recorded in six patients undergoing radiotherapy involving incidental spinal radiation. Two patients developed transient radiation myelopathy. No abnormality was found in the somatosensory evoked potentials throughout the study.

On the significance of Lhermitte's sign in oncology

“…A tentative explanation of the symptom is a reversible demyelinating lesion of the cord induced by radiation [10]. A neurophysiological study with evoked potentials is in favour of this hypothesis [21] but another study does not reproduce similar results [22]. Chronic progressive radiation myelitis (CPRM) affects 1 to 12.5% of selected patients [23].…”

Radiation Myelopathy: A Review

“…As a result, cord function can be measured directly and noninvasively . Electrophysiologic studies have been performed in humans following spinal cord irradiation [56]. Based on these studies, it has been suggested that radiation may produce measurable subclinical dysfunction.…”

Radiation myelopathy: A review

“…Electrophysiologic studies have been performed in humans following spinal cord irradiation [56]. As a result, cord function can be measured directly and noninvasively .…”