Brain irradiation: effects on normal brain parenchyma and radiation injury.
Radiation therapy is a major treatment modality for malignant and benign brain tumors. Concerns of radiation effects on the brain tissue and neurocognitive function and quality of life increase as survival of patients treated for brain tumors improves. In this article, the clinical and neurobehavioral symptoms and signs of radiation-induced brain injury, possible histopathology, and the potential of functional, metabolic, and molecular imaging as a biomarker for assessment and prediction of neurotoxicity after brain irradiation and imaging findings in radiation necrosis are discussed.
Sundgren
Pia C
PC
Diagnostic Centre for Imaging and Functional Medicine, Malmö University Hospital, University of Lund, SE-205 02 Malmö, Sweden. pia.sundgren@med.lu.se
Cao
Yue
Y
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020266:Radiotherapy, Conformal / Q000009:adverse effects*