Open AccessSide Effects of Oncologic Therapies in the Pediatric Central Nervous System: Update on Neuroimaging Findings
Author(s) -
Élida Vázquez,
Ignacio Delgado,
Ángel SánchezMontáñez,
Ignasi Barber,
José Sánchez-Toledo,
Goya Enríquez
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
radiographics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.866
H-Index - 172
eISSN - 1527-1323
pISSN - 0271-5333
DOI - 10.1148/rg.314105180
Subject(s) - medicine , neuroimaging , central nervous system , intensive care medicine , endocrine system , quality of life (healthcare) , cancer , pediatric cancer , pediatrics , psychiatry , nursing , hormone
The need for early, accurate diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) complications occurring during and after pediatric cancer treatment is growing because of the improvement in overall survival rates related to innovative and aggressive oncologic therapies. An elevated degree of suspicion is needed to recognize the radiologic features of these CNS complications. Radiologists need familiarity with the early and late side effects of cancer therapy in the pediatric CNS (eg, toxic effects, infection, endocrine or sensory dysfunction, neuropsychologic impairment, second malignancies), in order to accelerate the imaging diagnosis and minimize as much as possible the associated morbidity. Acquisition of knowledge about these complications will enable the development of more appropriate therapeutic trials and more effective patient surveillance and will lead to an improved quality of life by decreasing the long-term sequelae in survivors.