[Radiation-induced neuropathy].
Radiation-induced neuropathy is commonly observed among oncological patients. Radiation can affect the nervous tissue directly or indirectly by inducing vasculopathy or dysfunction of internal organs. Symptoms may be mild and reversible (e.g., pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, drowsiness, fatigue, paresthesia) or life-threatening (cerebral oedema, increased intracranial pressure, seizures). Such complications are clinically divided into peripheral (plexopathies, neuropathies of spinal and cranial nerves) and central neuropathy (myelopathy, encephalopathy, cognitive impairment). The degree of neuronal damages primarily depends on the total and fractional radiation dose and applied therapeutic methods. The conformal and megavoltage radiotherapy seems to be the safeties ones. Diagnostic protocol includes physical examination, imaging (in particular magnetic resonance), electromyography, nerve conduction study and sometimes histological examination. Prevention and early detection of neurological complications are necessary in order to prevent a permanent dysfunction of the nervous system. Presently their treatment is mostly symptomatic, but in same cases a surgical intervention is required. An experimental and clinical data indicates some effectiveness of different neuroprotective agents (e.g. anticoagulants, vitamin E, hyperbaric oxygen, pentoxifylline, bevacizumab, methylphenidate, donepezil), which should be administered before and/or during radiotherapy.
Centrum Onkologii Ziemi Lubelskiej im. św. Jana z Dukli, Lublin.
Agnieszka
A
Kolak
Centrum Onkologii Ziemi Lubelskiej im. św. Jana z Dukli, Lublin.
Elzbieta
E
Starosławska
Centrum Onkologii Ziemi Lubelskiej im. św. Jana z Dukli, Lublin.
Dariusz
D
Kieszko
Centrum Onkologii Ziemi Lubelskiej im. św. Jana z Dukli, Lublin.
Paweł
P
Cisek
Centrum Onkologii Ziemi Lubelskiej im. św. Jana z Dukli, Lublin.
Krzysztof Ireneusz
KI
Patyra
Centrum Onkologii Ziemi Lubelskiej im. św. Jana z Dukli, Lublin.
Dariusz
D
Surdyka
Centrum Onkologii Ziemi Lubelskiej im. św. Jana z Dukli, Lublin.
Aneta
A
Dobrzyńska-Rutkowska
Centrum Onkologii Ziemi Lubelskiej im. św. Jana z Dukli, Lublin.
Karolina
K
Łopacka-Szatan
Centrum Onkologii Ziemi Lubelskiej im. św. Jana z Dukli, Lublin.
Franciszek
F
Burdan
D006801:Humans; D009420:Nervous System / Q000528:radiation effects*; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control
D018696:Neuroprotective Agents