Radiation myelitis in a 5-year-old girl Journal Article
| Authors: | Antunes, N. L.; Wolden, S.; Souweidane, M. M.; Lis, E.; Rosenblum, M.; Steinherz, P. G. |
| Article Title: | Radiation myelitis in a 5-year-old girl |
| Abstract: | Myelopathy is an uncommon complication of radiotherapy, particularly in the pediatric age group. A 5-year-old girl with acute lymphoblastic leukemia developed a severe but transient radiculopathy after intrathecal administration of methotrexate and cytarabine for an isolated central nervous system relapse. Chemotherapy was then given through an intraventricular catheter. Owing to a second central nervous system recurrence, she was treated with craniospinal radiation. The whole brain down to the level of C2 received a dose of 2400 cGy. Two months after completion of radiation, the child developed a progressive tetraparesis, and magnetic resonance imaging revealed an enhancing lesion involving the medulla and upper cervical cord. A biopsy was consistent with a treatment-related necrotizing leukoencephalopathy. This case suggests that patients who develop neurologic dysfunction when treated with methotrexate can also be particularly susceptible to radiation-related injury. |
| Keywords: | preschool child; child, preschool; cancer recurrence; case report; cancer radiotherapy; radiation dose; cytarabine; methotrexate; nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; magnetic resonance imaging; radiotherapy; dexamethasone; vincristine; pathology; radiation injury; necrosis; acute lymphoblastic leukemia; central nervous system tumor; radiation dosage; chronic disease; disease severity; chemically induced disorder; radiation injuries; asparaginase; glucocorticoid; biopsy technique; acute lymphocytic leukemia; hydrocortisone; disease predisposition; neurologic disease; immunosuppressive agents; leukoencephalopathy; immunosuppressive agent; skeletal muscle; muscle, skeletal; radiculopathy; myelitis; quadriplegia; leukemia, lymphocytic, acute; humans; human; female; priority journal; article; cervical spinal cord injury |
| Journal Title: | Journal of Child Neurology |
| Volume: | 17 |
| Issue: | 3 |
| ISSN: | 0883-0738 |
| Publisher: | Sage Publications, Inc. |
| Date Published: | 2002-03-01 |
| Start Page: | 217 |
| End Page: | 219 |
| Language: | English |
| PUBMED: | 12026238 |
| PROVIDER: | scopus |
| DOI: | 10.1177/088307380201700312 |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | Export Date: 14 November 2014 -- Source: Scopus |
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