Survival in radiation myelopathy.
Survival in radiation myelopathy has been the subject of analysis. Factors affecting survival are the level of the lesion, the age of the patient, and the latent period of the injury. The influence of age and level of the lesion is compared with the effects of these same parameters in traumatic myelopathy. Patients with cervical cord lesions have more rapid morbidity in both radiation and traumatic myelopathy. For thoracic but not cervical lesions, younger patients have a greater survival expectation than older patients. Patients with shorter latent periods have a more rapid mortality in cervical radiation myelopathy, but no demonstrable effect is seen in thoracic radiation myelopathy.
D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000401:mortality*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000401:mortality*