Cerebral necrosis following neutron radiation of an extracranial tumor.

Radiation necrosis of the brain is a rare complication of irradiation for extracranial tumors. We present a patient who emphasizes the potential hazard of neutron therapy, the sensitivity of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which may detect white matter changes prior to the development of clinical symptoms, the potential diagnostic value of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose/positron emission tomography, and the importance of a combined surgical and medical approach for proper treatment.