[Post-irradiation brain necrosis causing apoplexy and death 33 years after irradiation]

A case of post-irradiation brain-necrosis resulting in apoplexia of the cerebellum after 33 years of irradiation (19 984 r.) of a presumptive cerebellar tumour in childhood is reported. The pathohistologic study revealed symptoms of the "late" damage and vascular changes appeared to be the most prominent. Thickening of the vessel walls, hyperplasia of collagen fibres and deposition of calcium in the media, were the most characteristic lesions revealed. In some of the small vessels isolated calcification of the media was observed. It seems most probable, that in the development of apoplexia vascular alterations could play an important part. In the available literature author has not found report on a similarly long interval elapsing between the irradiation and death.