Radiation-induced neurological complications of nasopharyngeal carcinoma Radiation-induced neurological complications of nasopharyngeal carcinoma Radiation-induced neurological complications of nasopharyngeal carcinoma Radiation-induced neurological complications of nasopharyngeal carcinoma Radiation-induced neurological complications of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Objectives: To review radiation-induced neurological complications of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Materials & Methods: Retrospective review of patients with radiation-induced neurological complications of NPC who presented to the Neurology and Neurosurgery Departments, Tan Tock Seng Hospital in the five-year period from 1994 to 99. Results: Nine patients with 10 neurological complications were seen. Four patients had cranial nerve palsies, of whom two had optic atrophy, one had isolated third nerve lesion and another had combined third, fourth and fifth cranial nerve palsies. Three patients each had temporal lobe necrosis and cervical myelopathy. Two of the patients with temporal lobe necrosis presented with seizures while the third presented with syndrome of inappropriate anti-diuretic hormone secretion. Two patients with optic atrophy and another two with cervical myelopathy were treated with anticoagulation therapy. The patients with optic atrophy improved while the patients with cervical myelopathy stabilised. Conclusions: Radiation therapy for NPC may cause delayed neurological complications of cranial nerve palsies, temporal lobe necrosis and cervical myelopathy. Treatment with anticoagulation may be beneficial in patients with optic atrophy and cervical myelopathy.