Figure 1.

Organ regions associated with side effects of radiotherapy. (a) Locations of several brain regions showing regional responses to irradiation. Dose to the hippocampus, subventricular zone, corpus callosum, temporal lobe and cerebellum are associated with radiation-induced neurocognitive decline. The anterior cerebellum is indicated in a lighter color, the posterior cerebellum is indicated in a darker color. Irradiation of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland can lead to endocrine dysfunction. Irradiation of the optic chiasm and optic nerve—connecting to the anterior side of the optic chiasm—can result in radiation-induced optic neuropathy. (b) For comparison location of several of these regions in the mouse brain. (c) Location of different regions and structures in the spinal cord. Radiosensitivity of these regions differs between species and between the lumbar and cervical regions of the spinal cord. (d) Location of the major ducts, the putative stem cell-containing region, of the parotid gland.