Radiation-induced endometriosis in Macaca mulatta.
Female rhesus monkeys received whole-body doses of ionizing radiation in the form of single-energy protons, mixed-energy protons, X rays, and electrons. Endometriosis developed in 53% of the monkeys during a 17-year period after exposure. Incidence rates for endometriosis related to radiation type were: single-energy protons, 54%; mixed-energy protons, 73%; X rays, 71%; and electrons, 57%. The incidence of endometriosis in nonirradiated control monkeys was 26%. Monkeys exposed to single-energy protons, mixed-energy protons, and X rays developed endometriosis at a significantly higher rate than control monkeys (chi 2, P less than 0.05). Severity of endometriosis was staged as massive, moderate, and minimal. The incidence of these stages were 65, 16, and 19%, respectively. Observations of clinical disease included weight loss in 43% of the monkeys, anorexia in 35%, space-occupying masses detected by abdominal palpation in 55%, abnormal ovarian/uterine anatomy on rectal examination in 89%, and radiographic evidence of abdominal masses in 38%. Pathological lesions were endometrial cyst formation in 69% of the monkeys, adhesions of the colon in 66%, urinary bladder in 50%, ovaries in 86%, and ureters in 44%, focal nodules of endometrial tissue throughout the omentum in 59%, and metastasis in 9%. Clinical management of endometriosis consisted of debulking surgery and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy combined in some cases with total abdominal hysterectomy. Postoperative survival rates at 1 and 5 years for monkeys recovering from surgery were 48 and 36%, respectively.
Fanton
J W
JW
Veterinary Sciences Division, USAF School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks AFB, Texas 78235.
Golden
J G
JG
D000818:Animals; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D010386:Pelvic Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D011522:Protons; D013026:Space Flight; D015996:Survival Rate; D014916:Whole-Body Irradiation
D011522:Protons