Progressive deterioration of intellect and motor function occurring several decades after cranial irradiation. A new facet in the clinical spectrum of radiation encephalopathy.
OBJECTIVE
To report the cases of 2 patients who developed the features of radiation encephalopathy 33 and 28 years after cranial irradiation.


METHODS
Case reports; clinical data were available for 2 years in each instance.


CONCLUSIONS
Latent intervals approaching 2 decades have been reported in cases of radiation necrosis following cranial irradiation, but a similar or greater delay before the onset of radiation encephalopathy has not been described previously. This report indicates that a diagnosis of radiation encephalopathy must be considered when any individual who has received cranial irradiation presents with deterioration in intellectual or motor function, whatever the interval.
Duffey
P
P
Department of Neurology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle Upon Tyne, England.
Chari
G
G
Cartlidge
N E
NE
Shaw
P J
PJ
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000528:radiation effects*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D016371:Cranial Irradiation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed