Late-onset cystic brain necrosis after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Cystic brain radionecrosis (CBRN) is a late-onset devastating complication after radiotherapy for head and neck neoplasms, especially for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). To our knowledge, it has scarcely been reported.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed all available medical records of NPC patients with CBRN who were treated with surgical intervention.


RESULTS
Sixteen patients were identified in this study and the mean latency of CBRN was 9.2 ± 0.9 years. The total irradiation dose of the nasopharynx ranged from 60 to 78 Gy. Cyst-like lesions were observed and there were slightly enhancements on the cyst wall in five patients on patients' brain MRI. All the included patients underwent surgical resection of the cystic necrotic lesion thought temporal approach. Specimens from surgery revealed reactive gliosis and immunopositive cytokines including TNF-α, IL-6 and HIF-2α. Only one patient experienced recurrence and received reoperation after surgery. All the other patients made a good recovery and no operation-related mortality was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
CBRN is a delayed but irreversible neurological sequel in irradiated NPC patients. Post-radiotherapy follow-up is quite necessary for those with high risk of CBRN. Proper treatment is needed for early CBRN patients to suppress inflammation in the brain. Timely neurosurgery may benefit patients with late-stage CBRN by alleviating increased intracranial pressure and inflammatory responses.
Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong.
Wenli
W
Fang
Department of Anesthesiology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong.
Beibei
B
Gu
Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong.
Xiuna
X
Jing
Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong.
Songhua
S
Xiao
Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong.
Shengnuo
S
Fan
Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong.
Wang
W
Liao
Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong.
Yuqiu
Y
Zheng
Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong.|Laboratory of RNA and Major Diseases of Brain and Heart, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong.|Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Jun
J
Liu
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D003560:Cysts / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077274:Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D009336:Necrosis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
nasopharyngeal carcinoma, cystic brain radionecrosis, clinical manifestations, pathogenesis, inflammation responses