Delayed cerebral radionecrosis following treatment of carcinoma of the scalp: clinicopathologic and ultrastructural study.

A 56-year-old female was found to have cerebral radionecrosis four and one-half years following betatron therapy of a carcinoma of the scalp. Angiographic findings revealed irregular narrowing of the pericallosal artery in the site of the lesion. The patient has resumed full activities with no new neurological findings in the six years following radical extirpation of the lesion. Fourteen similar cases are reviewed. Ten of the twelve patients who underwent radical surgery were cured. Radical extirpation soon after making the diagnosis of cerebral radionecrosis appears to be the treatment of choice. Characteristic ultrastructural findings of abnormal vessels are discussed.