Hemorrhagic vasculopathy after treatment of central nervous system neoplasia in childhood: diagnosis and follow-up.
OBJECTIVE
To review the clinical data, imaging findings, and intermediate outcomes of a series of children with hemorrhagic vasculopathy after treatment for intracranial neoplasia.


METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed the medical records and imaging examinations of 20 pediatric patients (ages 1 to 15 years) with intracranial neoplasia in whom delayed intracranial hemorrhage developed after cranial irradiation or radiation combined with systemic or intrathecal chemotherapy. Patients with intracranial hemorrhage from other identifiable causes were excluded. Histopathologic analysis was available in four patients.


RESULTS
Twenty patients with delayed intracranial hemorrhage received cranial irradiation alone (n = 9) or combined radiation and chemotherapy (n = 11) for primary brain tumors (n = 13), leukemia (n = 6), or lymphoma (n = 1). Imaging findings were consistent with hemorrhages of varying ages. The hemorrhages were not associated with tumor recurrence nor second tumors. Except for location of the hemorrhage, no significant relationship was established between outcome and original diagnosis, radiation dose (range, 1800 to 6000 centigray), chemotherapeutic agent or dosage, age at treatment, or interval between therapy and hemorrhage (mean, 8.1 years). Only brain stem hemorrhage was associated with a poor outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
In children with central nervous system neoplasia who have undergone cranial irradiation, or radiation combined with chemotherapy, delayed intracranial hemorrhage may develop.
Poussaint
T Y
TY
Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Siffert
J
J
Barnes
P D
PD
Pomeroy
S L
SL
Goumnerova
L C
LC
Anthony
D C
DC
Sallan
S E
SE
Tarbell
N J
NJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D016371:Cranial Irradiation; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed