Neurologic complications of chemotherapy and radiation therapy

Nervous system injury from cancer therapeutics is second only to myelosuppression as the most common toxicity caused by chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Neurologic complications can be seen throughout the course of cancer diagnosis and treatment; some toxicities may not develop for years or even decades after completion of treatment, making diagnosis challenging. However, early recognition is critical as modification of therapeutic regimens can diminish long-term consequences of nervous system injury and improve a patient's quality of life. This article addresses the most common neurologic complications seen as a consequence of chemotherapy and radiation therapy in patients with systemic cancer. These common toxicities are likely to be seen with increasing frequency as patients with systemic cancer are living longer and receiving multiple courses of antineoplastic regimens, some of which are lifelong.

Neurotoxicity from cancer therapeutics is common, and early recognition is critical to proper diagnosis and intervention.