Prophylactic cranial irradiation: 5 years on. Issue 1 (18th January 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ryan, Stephen A; Lowney, Aoife C; Murphy, Marie; Kelly, Paul J; Power, Derek G
• Is Part Of: BMJ supportive & palliative care. Volume 4:Issue 1(2014)
• Page Start: 84
• Page End: 86
• Publication Date: 2013-01-18
• Subjects: Survivorship -- Small Cell Lung < Cancer -- Neurocognitive impairment -- Prophylactic Cranial Irradiation -- Toxic Leucencephalopathy; Palliative treatment -- Periodicals; Terminal care -- Periodicals; 616.029
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjspcare-2012-000356
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2045-435X

Abstract

Abstract : With advances in cancer management, patients are living with the long-term sequelae of both cancer and its treatment. This era of cancer survivorship poses unique challenges to the interdisciplinary cancer team in terms of management and prevention of treatment-related toxicities. This paper describes the case of a 55-year-old patient with neurocognitive disturbance as a result of prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI). Five years after a diagnosis of small cell lung cancer, she is now an inpatient at a specialist palliative care unit. The current evidence for PCI and for potentially modifiable risk factors for neurocognitive disturbance as a consequence of PCI is explored.