Relationship between radiation injury and Alzheimer-related neurodegenerative changes.
The relationship between radiation injury and other neurodegenerative changes such as the formation of neuritic or diffuse plaques and tangles have received little attention in the literature. In the current study, archival tissue was examined from 485 patients with the diagnosis of either a primary or metastatic brain tumor, who had received radiation therapy between the initial and subsequent pathological study (either surgical or autopsy). Of those cases, 20 were identified that also contained cerebral cortex in both specimens. Sections were stained with the modified Bielschowsky technique and immunohistochemical preparations for beta-amyloid. Contrary to previous reports, the present study did not identify neurodegenerative changes typical of Alzheimer's disease as a consequence of radiation therapy.
Riudavets
Department of Neuropathology and Ophthalmic Pathology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, DC 20306-6000, USA.
Mena
H
H
Bouffard
J P
JP
Sandberg
G
G
Rushing
E J
EJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000209:etiology; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*