Radiation necrosis of the brain following radiotherapy of extracerebral neoplasms

Journal Article · Thu Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1976 · Surg. Neurol. (Tryon, N.C.); (United States)

OSTI ID:7216537

Kusske, J A; Williams, J P; Garcia, J H; Pribram, H W

Radiation therapy is often used in the treatment of tumors of the head and neck as well as neoplasms of the central nervous system. The hazards of this form of therapy have been widely discussed and most of the pathological changes in the central nervous system have been ascribed to improper dosimetry or other technical errors. Necrosis of the brain secondary to radiation may be associated with swelling that leads to intracranial hypertension and focal neurological signs. A difficult diagnostic problem confronts the clinician when symptoms and signs of an intracranial expanding process develop in a patient, following irradiation of exracerebral tumors of the head and neck, or occasionally following the treatment of intrinsic cerebral neoplasms. The possibility of metastasis or recurrence must be borne in mind always. We have seen recently two patients with signs of intracranial mass lesions following radiation therapy. One patient was treated for carcinoma of the maxillary sinus and the other for a pituitary adenoma. An operation, in each case, revealed classical changes of radiation injury.

• Research Organization: Veterans Administration Hospital, Long Beach, CA
• OSTI ID: 7216537
• Journal Information: Surg. Neurol. (Tryon, N.C.); (United States), Journal Name: Surg. Neurol. (Tryon, N.C.); (United States) Vol. 6:1; ISSN SGNRA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560151* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Man
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
BODY AREAS
BRAIN
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
DELAYED RADIATION EFFECTS
DISEASES
HEAD
MEDICINE
NEOPLASMS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORGANS
PATIENTS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOLOGY
RADIOTHERAPY
SIDE EFFECTS
SURGERY
THERAPY