Growth retardation in children after megavoltage irradiation of the spine

Abstract

Twenty-two children, under the age of 15, received complete spinal irradiation with a linear accelerator, for treatment of lymphoma, medulloblastoma, and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Sixteen of the 22 children show retardation of growth of the spine. Ten children have a sitting height, which is a reflection of spinal length, more than two standard deviations from the normal mean for their age. Children receiving irradiation at the times of most active growth, under the age of 6 and at the time of puberty, show especially marked retardation of spinal growth.