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Radiation Myelopathy Side Effects

Webster's Dictionary defines myelopathy as any disease or disorder of the spinal cord or bone marrow. Radiation myelopathy is spinal injury following therapeutic irradiation. There are three classifications: common but mild transient, less common but catastrophic and progressive, and uncommon lower motor neuron syndrome.

  1. Transient Myelopathy

    • Transient myelopathy is reported in 10 to 15 percent of patients receiving radiotherapy for Hodgkin's disease. Known side effects are an electric shock feeling up and down the spinal cord that often worsens with physical exertion. It frequently extends down the arms and legs

    Treatment for Transient Myelopathy

    • Side effects of transient myelopathy tend to decrease with time and should subside one to nine months after completing the radiation treatments.

    Progressive or Delayed Radiation Myelopathy

    • Patients diagnosed with delayed radiation myelopathy complain of numbness in the legs as well as sphincter dysfunction. Little pain is reported.

    Prognosis for Delayed Radiation Myelopathy

    • Side effects for delayed radiation myelopathy progress with time and are generally irreversible.

    Motor Neuron Syndrome

    • A rare condition associated with radiation myelopathy is motor neuron syndrome. A patient affected can expect bilateral weakness, muscle atrophy, a decrease in reflexes, and flexor strength confined to the legs. This syndrome is irreversible.

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