Maxillo-dental lesions produced in cats, after gamma and fast neutron irradiation. Radiographical and microradiographical study

Gamma doses of 50 Gy, in 5 fractions over 29 days, induce severe modifications of the irradiated jaw in the cat, as shown by radiographical and microradiographical techniques. Four out 5 animals could survive up to one year; a fifth one died as a consequence of osteoradionecrosis. In addition, 2 animals, on which a tooth extraction was performed, died from osteoradionecrosis (role of trauma). Similar irradiations were performed with fast neutrons d(50) + Be at a total dose of 16.1 Gy in 5 fractions over 29 days. The ratio 50 Gy/16.1 Gy = 3.1 is the CNPF adopted for neutrontherapy applications at Louvain-la-Neuve. This irradiation was well tolerated by 7/7 animals. Only alveolodental ankylosis was observed in 3 cases, as well as a slight reduction in bone vitality in the dorsal part of the jaw. An eighth animal died from osteoradionecrosis induced by tooth extraction