Cerebral radionecrosis with cystic degeneration following radiotherapy for nasal cavity squamous cell carcinoma: a case report

The Kaohsiung Journal of Medical Sciences
Ying-Che HsuShiuh-Lin Huang

Abstract

A 31-year-old man with nasal cavity squamous cell carcinoma was treated in our hospital with two courses of radiotherapy (120 Gy total dose) followed by surgical tumor resection. Three years after the last irradiation, he developed seizures as well as changes in behavior and consciousness. Medical therapy with diphenylhydantoin (Dilantin) terminated the seizures. Dysphagia, unsteady gait, and right-side limb weakness developed 37 months after the onset of seizures. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a large, cystic mass in the left temporal lobe with left to right midline shift. Following craniotomy with decompression of the cystic mass, the patient improved clinically. No malignant cells were found in the specimen. No further progression of neurologic symptoms was noted after a 1-year follow-up. Cerebral radionecrosis is an uncommon late complication of radiotherapy and needs to be differentiated from tumor recurrence or metastasis if the irradiation field covers the cerebral region in patients with head and neck malignancies.

References

Jan 1, 1975·European Neurology·J De Reuck, H vander Eecken
Nov 1, 1988·International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics·R B HawkinsJ N Fields
Dec 1, 1984·Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry·P J Shaw, D Bates
Sep 1, 1980·International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics·G E ShelineV Smith
Dec 1, 1994·AJR. American Journal of Roentgenology·D KahnP T Kirchner
Jan 9, 1998·International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics·A W LeeJ H Ho
Nov 10, 1998·Journal of Neurology·F Keime-GuibertJ Y Delattre

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Nov 24, 2005·The Kaohsiung Journal of Medical Sciences·Ying-Che HsuWen-Rei Kuo

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell

Basal cell carcinoma is a form of malignant skin cancer found on the head and neck regions and has low rates of metastasis. Discover the latest research on basal cell carcinoma here.

Cancer Imaging

Imaging techniques, including CT and MR, have become essential to tumor detection, diagnosis, and monitoring. Here is the latest research on cancer imaging.