Summary
Glial and vascular abnormalities in brain, simulating intracranial neoplasia, are described in a patient who received radiation to the pituitary region for treatment of an adenoma, 13 months before death. In addition to the expected changes of cerebral radionecrosis, four interesting features are cited: 1. Diffuse hyperplasia of capillaries in the cerebral cortex with marked endothelial hypertrophy; 2. abundant, large multipolar bizarre cells in the perivascular connective tissues; 3. focal astrocytic proliferation with many cells resembling either Alzheimer type I astrocytes or neoplastic cells, and 4. radiation changes in the non-irradiated brain.
References
Arnold, A., Bailey, P.: Alterations in the glial cells following irradiation of the brain in primates. Arch. Path.57, 383 (1954)
Crompton, M. R., Layton, D. D.: Delayed radionecrosis of the brain following therapeutic x-radiation of the pituitary. Brain84, 85 (1961)
Davidoff, L. M., Dyke, C. G., Elsberg, C. A., Tarlov, I. M.: The effect of radiation applied directly to the brain and spinal cord. Experimental investigations on the Macacus Rhesus monkeys. Radiology31, 451 (1938)
Dugger, G. S., Stratford, J. G., Buchard, J.: Necrosis of the brain following roentgen irradiation. Amer. J. Roentgenol.72, 953 (1954)
Eyster, E. F., Nielsen, S. L., Sheline, G. E., Wilson, C. B.: Cerebral radiation necrosis simulating a brain tumor. J. Neurosurg.39, 267 (1974)
Ghatak, N. R., White, B. E.: Delayed radiation necrosis of the hypothalamus. Report of a case simulating recurrent craniopharyngioma. Arch. Neurol. (Chic.)21, 425 (1969)
Lampert, P. W., Davis, R. L.: Delayed effects of radiation on the human central nervous system. Neurology (Minneap.)14, 912 (1964)
Lampert, P., Tom, M. I., Rider, W. D.: Disseminated demyelination of the brain following CO60 (Gamma) radiation. Arch. Path.68, 322 (1959)
Lowenberg-Scharenberg, K., Bassett, R. C.: Amyloid degeneration of the human brain following x-ray therapy. J. Neuropath. exp. Neurol.9, 93 (1950)
McDonald, L. W., Hayes, T. L.: The role of capillaries in the pathogenesis of delayed radionecrosis of brain. Amer. J. Path.50, 745 (1967)
Nielsen, S. L., Kjellberg, R. N., Asbury, A. K., Koehler, A. M.: Neuropathologic effects of proton-beam irradiation in man: evaluation after pituitary irradiation. Acta neuropath. (Berl.)21, 76 (1972)
Pennybacker, J., Russell, D. S.: Necrosis of the brain due to radiation therapy: clinical and pathological observations. J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiat.11, 183 (1948)
Roizin, L.: Pathogenesis of x-radiation effects in the monkey cerebral cortex: histopathologic findings. Brain Res.7, 28 (1968)
Russell, Dorothy, S., Wilson, C. W., Tansley, K.: Experimental radionecrosis of the brain in rabbits. J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiat.12, 187 (1949)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Husain, M.M., Garcia, J.H. Cerebral “radiation necrosis”: Vascular and glial features. Acta Neuropathol 36, 381–385 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00699643
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00699643