脳腫瘍における放射線治療後変化の病理学的所見について

Histopathological changes in the central nervous system after radiation therapy for brain tumors

脳腫瘍に対しては，基本的に開頭腫瘍摘出術や定位脳生検などの手術療法が中心となるが，組織型によっては放射線療法や化学療法などの各種治療が術後になされる。それにより生存期間は延長し，あるいは治癒に至る。

The main treatment for brain tumors is surgery. However, postoperative therapies, such as radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy, are additionally performed depending on the histological types of brain tumors. These postoperative therapies may prolong the survival and increase the tumor-free life years of brain tumor survivors. Nevertheless, it is known that various types of brain injury can occur over a long period of time after irradiation. These brain injuries are characterized into radiation leukoencephalopathy, radiation necrosis, and radiation-induced brain tumors. These should be considered because of their occurrence over a long period of time after irradiation. As such, we hereby discuss actual cases of necrosis and radiation-induced brain tumors, with those actual cases.