Neuropathological findings in radiation myelopathy of the lumbosacral cord.

The case of a patient with a cauda syndrome without sensory deficits following radiation therapy to the lumbosacral cord is reported. This patient received a total dose of 38 Gy to the lumbar vertebrae because of bone metastases of a carcinoma of the breast. On autopsy, degeneration of cauda equina nerve roots with an irregular distribution was found. Anterior horn neurons showed central chromatolysis. No definite ischemic lesions were detectable. This is the first case report on neuropathological findings in lumbosacral radiation myelopathy.