title: Challenges with the diagnosis and treatment of cerebral radiation necrosis.
abstract: The incidence of radiation necrosis has increased secondary to greater use of combined modality therapy for brain tumors and stereotactic radiosurgery. Given that its characteristics on standard imaging are no different that tumor recurrence, it is difficult to diagnose without use of more sophisticated imaging and nuclear medicine scans, although the accuracy of such scans is controversial. Historically, treatment had been limited to steroids, hyperbaric oxygen, anticoagulants, and surgical resection. A recent prospective randomized study has confirmed the efficacy of bevacizumab in treating radiation necrosis. Novel therapies include using focused interstitial laser thermal therapy. This article will review the diagnosis and treatment of radiation necrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio; Rose Ella Burkhardt Brain Tumor and Neuro-oncology Center, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio. Electronic address: chaos@ccf.org.
authors.forename: Samuel T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.forename: Manmeet S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ahluwalia
authors.forename: Gene H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Barnett
authors.forename: Glen H J
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: Erin S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Abigail L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Stockham
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shiue
authors.forename: John H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Suh
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D002538:Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009336:Necrosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016634:Radiosurgery / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051381:Rats; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D013256:Steroids; D000068258:Bevacizumab