Neurologic dysfunction in patients treated for small cell carcinoma of the lung: a clinical and radiological study
The neurologic dysfunction in 7 patients treated for small cell carcinoma (SCC) of the lung by combination chemotherapy and prophylactic brain irradiation was evaluated. The disease appeared to be a diffuse encephalopathy frequently affecting the higher cortical functions. Five out of seven patients had progressive dysfunction leading to death in 1 to 26 months; one patient had stabilization of symptoms followed by death in 21 months, probably from the neurologic disease as well as SCC; one patient's symptoms improved. The clinical course of the neurologic disorder seemed different from the known reactions to brain irradiation and from the other neurologic syndromes associated with lung cancer. The relative contributions of cranial irradiation and treatment with chemotherapeutic agents in producing the neurotoxicity are not known. Computed tomographic (CT) brain scans done after the onset of symptoms did not show any focal signs or necrosis. However, there was a suggestion of progressive increase in intracranial fluid volume on the scans. The incidence of the disorder, 10.2% among a group of 49 patients, suggests the need for prospective studies to evaluate the problem.
- Research Organization:
- Stanford Univ. School of Medicine, CA
- OSTI ID:
- 5616629
- Journal Information:
- Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States), Vol. 3
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Late neurological complications after prophylactic cranial irradiation in patients with small-cell lung cancer: The Toronto experience
Prospective Study of Hippocampal-Sparing Prophylactic Cranial Irradiation in Limited-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer
Related Subjects
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
BRAIN
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
LUNGS
CARCINOMAS
RADIOTHERAPY
SIDE EFFECTS
DOXORUBICIN
PATIENTS
ANTI-INFECTIVE AGENTS
ANTIBIOTICS
ANTINEOPLASTIC DRUGS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BODY
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
DISEASES
DRUGS
MEDICINE
NEOPLASMS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORGANS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOLOGY
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
THERAPY
560151* - Radiation Effects on Animals- Man
550603 - Medicine- External Radiation in Therapy- (1980-)