| Popis: |
Definitive or adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) is associated with multiple toxicities, though the modality helps avoid the morbidity of extensive surgical reaction. Acute effects include cyst expansion and alopecia, which may become permanent. Sub-acute effects include somnolence syndrome, a transient period of extreme fatigue. Late effects include cognitive decline due to RT impairment of white matter growth in the developing cerebrum. The development of endocrinopathies is nearly universal as a result of the suprasellar location of craniopharyngioma and may occur from tumor, surgery, or radiation. Optic neuropathy is an uncommon but irreversible complication, rare at doses currently used for treatment. Second malignancies may develop in the radiation field, though the risk of this complication is under 5% among survivors of craniopharyngioma. The likelihood of all non-endocrinopathy toxicities may be minimized by very conformal RT modalities, including proton RT. |
