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Updated: Jul 2, 2026
05:08
Targeted and Selective Treatment of Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Teratomas Using External Beam Radiation in a Small-animal Model
Published on: February 17, 2019
[Therapy-induced effects in normal tissue].
1Abteilung E010 - Radiologie, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Deutschland.
Der Radiologe
|August 19, 2008
Summary
Modern cancer treatments improve survival, but long-term side effects can mimic tumor recurrence. Understanding these treatment sequelae is crucial for accurate diagnosis and patient care.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Radiology
- Medical Imaging
Context:
- Increased cancer survival rates lead to more frequent observation of long-term treatment sequelae.
- Distinguishing treatment-induced tissue changes from tumor recurrence poses diagnostic challenges.
Purpose:
- To review the diverse long-term sequelae of cancer therapies, including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy.
- To highlight how these effects can mimic or obscure tumor recurrences, complicating differential diagnosis.
Summary:
- Radiotherapy can cause blood-brain barrier disruption, radiation pneumonitis, bone issues (osteodystrophy, osteoradionecrosis), bone marrow changes, and increased breast tissue density.
- Chemotherapy may induce white matter abnormalities, lung fibrosis, cardiomyopathy, and bone marrow signal changes on MRI.
- Secondary cancers and leukemia are the most severe long-term complications, linked to both radiation and chemotherapy.
Impact:
- Accurate identification of treatment sequelae is vital for appropriate patient management and avoiding misdiagnosis of cancer progression.
- Awareness of these effects aids clinicians in interpreting imaging findings and managing long-term cancer survivors.
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