Progressive deterioration of intellect and motor function occurring several decades after cranial irradiation. A new facet in the clinical spectrum of radiation encephalopathy
P. Duffey, G. Chari, N. E. Cartlidge and P. J. Shaw
Department of Neurology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle Upon Tyne, England.
OBJECTIVE: To report the cases of 2 patients who developed the features of
radiation encephalopathy 33 and 28 years after cranial irradiation. DESIGN:
Case reports; clinical data were available for 2 years in each instance.
CONCLUSION: Latent intervals approaching 2 decades have been reported in
cases of radiation necrosis following cranial irradiation, but a similar or
greater delay before the onset of radiation encephalopathy has not been
described previously. This report indicates that a diagnosis of radiation
encephalopathy must be considered when any individual who has received
cranial irradiation presents with deterioration in intellectual or motor
function, whatever the interval.
