Radiation leukoencephalopathy associated with moderate hydrocephalus: intracranial pressure monitoring and results of ventriculoperitoneal shunting

Delayed neurological sequelae of radiotherapy have several manifestations; leukoencephalopathy is one of the most common. Pathogenetic relationships between radiation leukoencephalopathy and other findings of diffuse radiation injury (brain atrophy and progressive ventriculomegaly) are not well defi...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neurological sciences 2002-12, Vol.23 (5), p.237-241
Main Authors: Perrini, P, Scollato, A, Cioffi, F, Mouchaty, H, Conti, R, Di Lorenzo, N
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Brain - diagnostic imaging
Brain - pathology
Dementia, Vascular - complications
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Glioblastoma - diagnostic imaging
Glioblastoma - pathology
Humans
Hydrocephalus - complications
Hydrocephalus - therapy
Intracranial Pressure - physiology
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Middle Aged
Neurology
Neurosciences
Radiography
Radiotherapy - adverse effects
Sensitivity and Specificity
Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt - methods
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Delayed neurological sequelae of radiotherapy have several manifestations; leukoencephalopathy is one of the most common. Pathogenetic relationships between radiation leukoencephalopathy and other findings of diffuse radiation injury (brain atrophy and progressive ventriculomegaly) are not well defined. Moreover, no guidelines have been established for the treatment of hydrocephalus when associated with radiation leukoencephalopathy. Our study reports intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring in two patients with radiation leukoencephalopathy with moderate hydrocephalus. High intraventricular mean pressure and high peaks were found, and marked improvement of clinical status after shunting was achieved. This study, although restricted to only two patients, shows that ventriculoperitoneal shunting insertion is useful in radiation-induced hydrocephalus, when ICP monitoring detects high mean pressure. A hypothesis is advanced concerning radiation-induced hydrocephalus with high ICP, emphasizing periventricular astrocytosis and its connections with cerebral compliance.
ISSN:1590-1874
1590-3478
DOI:10.1007/s100720200048