[Chronic cerebral injury following radiotherapy for maxillary cancer]

From 1965 to 1982, 195 cases of maxillary cancer receiving more than 30 Gy of radiotherapy and surviving more than 6 months were investigated. Chronic cerebral necrosis following irradiation was found in 5 cases. All of them were irradiated with a total dose of more than 60 Gy. Symptoms caused by radiation injury of the brain were observed after more than 3 years. CT images showed irregular low-density areas in the base of the frontal or the temporal lobe within the irradiated field, and the lesion was enhanced in 16.6% of the patients who were irradiated with more than 60 Gy and survived without local recurrence for more than 3 years. Their symptoms, pathology, treatment, prognosis and procedures to avoid chronic cerebral damage were also discussed.