Oral Manifestations of Ionizing Radiation

Abstract

Oral tissues, salivary glands, and developing teeth of 41 young swine were studied grossly and histologically to observe pathologic changes resulting from X-ray irradiation. Swine were selected from 120 exposed to 2000 K.V. total body irradiation in doses of about 250 to 800 roentgens in air. A hard-tissue-sectioning machine was developed for making sections through undecalcified teeth and jaws. Gross changes in the oral mucosa consisted of petechial and ecchymatic hemorrhages in 49% of the animals and marked ulceration in 9.8%. Histologic study revealed irregular erosions of the mucosa in about 30% of the animals, and either petechial or massive hemorrhage into the crypts of developing teeth of 70%. Regional lymph nodes showed a high degree of sensitivity by exhibiting hemorrhage and depletion of lymphoid cells. Salivary glands were among the less sensitive tissues with regard to morphologic change; however, a definite decrease of basic staining granules was observed in acute stages of radiation sickness, with complete recovery in 30-day survivors. A characteristic hypoplasia of the enamel of developing molar teeth was observed among swine which received more than 400 r. Ameloblasts actively producing enamel matrix appeared to be sensitive to irradiation. Other portions of teeth showed minimal effects.