Brain Radionecrosis: Case Report

Abstract

Brain necrosis is a possible complication caused by radiation therapy used in the treatment of head and neck cancer. This complication has variable neurological symptoms according to the site of brain damage, including motor deficits, aphasia, altered consciousness, seizures, and intracranial hypertension and also a variable time for presentation ranging from 3 months to 10 years. Once established, brain injury is irreversible and it is characterized by non-specific radiological image that submits the questions about its etiology: is it secondary to radionecrosis? Tumor progression? Primary tumor? The clinical report here described demonstrates the possibility of such differential diagnosis in a patient with brain lesion as a consequence of radiotherapy for a skin cancer.