Radiation and the nervous system. Issue 6 (22nd August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kosmin, Michael; Rees, Jeremy
• Is Part Of: Practical neurology. Volume 22:Issue 6(2022)
• Page Start: 450
• Page End: 460
• Publication Date: 2022-08-22
• Subjects: radiotherapy -- cerebrovascular disease -- clinical neurology -- cognition -- dementia; Neurology -- Periodicals; 616.8005
• DOI: 10.1136/pn-2022-003343
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1474-7758

Abstract

Abstract : Radiation therapy is widely used for benign and malignant brain tumours as it is effective and well tolerated. However, damage to the surrounding healthy nervous system tissue leads to a variety of complications both in the short term and long term, ranging from mild and self-limiting to irreversible and fatal. Radiation neurotoxicity is due to a combination of early inflammation and oligodendroglial damage followed later by brain tissue necrosis, white matter damage, accelerated vascular disease and the development of secondary tumours. This article explains the basic principles of radiation physics, the different modalities used in clinical practice, how radiotherapy is planned and delivered and the scientific basis of radiation damage. The main body of the article focuses on the clinical features of radiation toxicity in the brain, spinal cord, cranial and peripheral nerves with an emphasis on the distinction between early and delayed complications.