Fatal long-term sequela following radiation "cure" for ependymoma.

There are no previous reports of glioblastoma occurring following central nervous system irradiation. This report describes a young girl with an ependymoma at age 13 months who was treated by radiotherapy following surgical removal. At age 6 years she presented with a new lesion in the same location. Histologically there was no evidence of recurrent ependymoma. Instead, the pathological picture suggested glioblastoma or a severe radiation-induced encephalopathy. In either case, it seems likely that the changes were radiation induced.