Treatment of radiotherapy induced cerebral necrosis in pediatric patients

Abstract

One of the therapeutic options for CNS tumor is radiation therapy which can cause a radiation induced cerebral necrosis. Radiation induced cerebral necrosis (RICN) can be a potentially devastating side effect. Treatment for RICN should start promptly to prevent worsening conditions and maintain quality of life of the patient. However, in modern days, there are not so many options for treatment of this side effect, so radiation oncologists are working on creating optimal radiation dose for brain cancer patients to prevent radiation induced brain necrosis as much as possible. RICN is observed to be a higher chance in particular radiation therapy (proton therapy). In this thesis, how proton therapy lead to RICN as well as current pharmacological treatments together with potential alternatives will be reviewed.