radiation

Last reviewed 01/2018

Ionizing radiation is directly cytotoxic to the marrow in a dose-related fashion:

• stem cell depletion is reversible for doses of less than 4 Gy
• doses between 4 and 10 Gy are reversible provided that there is supportive care
• doses greater than 10 Gy cause irreversible damage to the marrow microenvironment with the irradiated areas unable to support haemopoiesis. It is commonly observed following widespread therapeutic irradiation for malignancy.