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Updated: Jul 23, 2025

Proton Therapy Delivery and Its Clinical Application in Select Solid Tumor Malignancies
Published on: February 6, 2019
[Secondary tumors following radiation therapy and chemotherapy : Incidence of cavernous hemangiomas]
1Klinik für Diagnostische und Interventionelle Neuroradiologie, Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes, Kirrberger Str., 66424, Homburg-Saar, Deutschland. wolfgang.reith@uks.eu.
Problem:
There is a risk of developing secondary central nervous system (CNS) tumors after cranial radiation therapy. Meningiomas and pituitary tumors are also increasingly treated with radiation therapy, which means that the risk of secondary tumors from radiation in children and adults must be communicated.
Methods:
Studies in children show that radiation causes a 7- to 10-fold increase in subsequent CNS tumors with a cumulative incidence over 20 years ranging from 1.03 to 28.9. The latency period for the occurrence of secondary tumors ranged from 5.5 to 30 years, with gliomas developing after 5-10 years and meningiomas around 15 years after irradiation. The latency period for secondary CNS tumors in adults ranged from 5 to 34 years.
Conclusion:
After radiation treatment, tumors can rarely occur as secondary sequelae, mostly meningiomas and gliomas, but also cavernomas. The treatment and long-term results of radiation-induced CNS tumors showed no worse results than primary CNS tumors over the course of time.

