Radiation-induced brain tumours after central nervous system irradiation in childhood: a review.
OBJECTIVE
Radiation-induced cerebral tumours constitute a significant risk for subjects undergoing radiotherapy for the management of cerebral neoplasms. Age-related cerebral vulnerability could be a specific factor in the genesis of these complications.


METHODS
The pertinent literature of both paediatric and adult series has been reviewed. Three personal cases were added.


RESULTS
One hundred forty-two paediatric second brain tumours were evaluated. Out of them, 69 were malignant gliomas, 33 meningiomas, 8 sarcomatous lesions and 13 low-grade astrocytomas. The average latency period for the appearance of the second tumour was 8 years. Among the second tumours occurring in adults, meningioma is the most common. In this subgroup, the latency period ranged between 16 and 30 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Paediatric radiation-induced brain tumours differ from the adult counterpart for both the histological subtypes. These figures indicate a specific vulnerability of the infantile brain demonstrated by the most frequent occurrence of highly malignant lesions.
Pettorini
Benedetta Ludovica
BL
Institute of Neurosurgery, Division of Paediatric Neurosurgery, Catholic University of Rome, Largo Agostino Gemelli, 8, 00168, Rome, Italy. benedettaludovica@virgilio.it
Park
Young-Soo
YS
Caldarelli
Massimo
M
Massimi
Luca
L
Tamburrini
Gianpiero
G
Di Rocco
Concezio
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D010372:Pediatrics