BACKGROUND: Changes in the hippocampus after brain metastases radiotherapy can significantly impact neurocognitive functions. Numerous studies document hippocampal atrophy correlating with the radiation dose. This study aims to elucidate volumetric changes in patients undergoing whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) or targeted stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) and to explore volumetric changes in the individual subregions of the hippocampus. METHOD: Ten patients indicated to WBRT and 18 to SRT underwent brain magnetic resonance before radiotherapy and after 4 months. A structural T1-weighted sequence was used for volumetric analysis, and the software FreeSurfer was employed as the tool for the volumetry evaluation of 19 individual hippocampal subregions. RESULTS: The volume of the whole hippocampus, segmented by the software, was larger than the volume outlined by the radiation oncologist. No significant differences in volume changes were observed in the right hippocampus. In the left hippocampus, the only subregion with a smaller volume after WBRT was the granular cells and molecular layers of the dentate gyrus (GC-ML-DG) region (median change -5 mm3, median volume 137 vs. 135 mm3; P = .027), the region of the presumed location of neuronal progenitors. CONCLUSIONS: Our study enriches the theory that the loss of neural stem cells is involved in cognitive decline after radiotherapy, contributes to the understanding of cognitive impairment, and advocates for the need for SRT whenever possible to preserve cognitive functions in patients undergoing brain radiotherapy.
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Cerebral tumors and multiple sclerosis (MS) can show overlapping clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features and even occur concurrently. Due to the emergence of new symptoms, not usually MS related, an MRI was conducted in a 29-year-old woman with relapsing-remitting MS and showed a significant size progression of a parieto-occipital lesion, with mild clinical correlates, such as blurred vision, difficulty in speaking, and headache. Contrast-enhanced MRI and fluorothymidine positron-emission tomography (PET) did not point toward neoplasm, a lesion biopsy, however, showed astrocytoma, which was confirmed as grade III astrocytoma after the radical resection of the tumor. In the case of an atypical lesion, a tumor should be considered in patients with MS. A small fraction of high-grade gliomas show no enhancement on MRI and no hypermetabolism on PET. Biopsy proved to be the essential step in a successful diagnostic workup. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of anaplastic astrocytoma with these radiological features reported in a patient with MS.
- Publikační typ
- kazuistiky MeSH
BACKGROUND: The landscape of brain metastases radiotherapy is evolving, with a shift away from whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) toward targeted stereotactic approaches aimed at preserving neurocognitive functions and maintaining overall quality of life. For patients with multiple metastases, especially in cases where targeted radiotherapy is no longer feasible due to widespread dissemination, the concept of hippocampal sparing radiotherapy (HA_WBRT) gains prominence. METHODS: In this narrative review we explore the role of the hippocampi in memory formation and the implications of their postradiotherapy lateral damage. We also consider the potential advantages of selectively sparing one hippocampus during whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT). Additionally, by systematic evaluation of relevant papers published on PubMed database over last 20 years, we provide a comprehensive overview of the various changes that can occur in the left or right hippocampus as a consequence of radiotherapy. RESULTS: While it is important to note that various neurocognitive functions are interconnected throughout the brain, we can discern certain specialized roles of the hippocampi. The left hippocampus appears to play a predominant role in verbal memory, whereas the right hippocampus is associated more with visuospatial memory. Additionally, the anterior part of the hippocampus is more involved in episodic memory and emotional processing, while the posterior part is primarily responsible for spatial memory and pattern separation. Notably, a substantial body of evidence demonstrates a significant correlation between post-radiotherapy changes in the left hippocampus and subsequent cognitive decline in patients. CONCLUSION: In the context of individualized palliative radiotherapy, sparing the unilateral (specifically, the left, which is dominant in most individuals) hippocampus could expand the repertoire of strategies available for adapted WBRT in cases involving multiple brain metastases where stereotactic radiotherapy is not a viable option. Prospective ongoing studies assessing various memory-sparing radiotherapy techniques will define new standard of radiotherapy care of patients with multiple brain metastases.
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
- Publikační typ
- abstrakt z konference MeSH
- Publikační typ
- abstrakt z konference MeSH
- Publikační typ
- abstrakt z konference MeSH
Paliativní ozáření podstupuje téměř třetina dospělých onkologických pacientů. Cílem tohoto přehledového článku je poskytnout základní informace o možnostech radioterapie k ovlivnění nejčastějších symptomů u pacientů v paliativní léčbě, její toxicitě a efektivitě.
Almost one third of adult cancer patients undergo palliative radiation therapy. This review article provides basic information on the methods radiotherapy uses to affect the most common symptoms in patients undergoing palliative treatment. It also focuses on the toxicity and effectiveness of radiotherapy.
- Klíčová slova
- paliativní radioterapie,
- MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- nádory radioterapie MeSH
- paliativní péče * MeSH
- radioterapie * MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- přehledy MeSH
Paliativní péče (PP) je aktivní multidisciplinární péče, která primárně není zaměřena na prodloužení života nebo léčby u onkologických pacientů, ale na zmírnění symptomů základního onemocnění a tím i zlepšení kvality jejich života. PP by měla být poskytována již v průběhu komplexní onkologické péče a být její nedílnou součástí. Tento trend se týká rovněž neuroonkologických pacientů s primárním nádorem mozku. Pacienti s primárním nádorem mozku nepatří v rámci onkologických pacientů ke skupině nejpočetnější, ale vzhledem k tomu, že vedle celkových příznaků onkologického onemocnění se u nich projevuje i postižení progresivním neurologickým onemocněním, jedná se o specifickou skupinu pacientů. PP se v průběhu onemocnění snaží řešit a pozitivně ovlivnit nejen symptomy související s onkologickým onemocněním, nýbrž zahrnuje i péči psychologickou, sociální a spirituální. V případě, že jsou možnosti onkologické protinádorové léčby vyčerpány, nebo je léčba z různých důvodů ukončena, stává se PP hlavním léčebným postupem. Pro pacienty s HGG (high grade glioma) - s ohledem na progresivní průběh tohoto onemocnění - by měla být PP zahájena ihned po operaci současně se zahájením začátkem jejich onkologické terapie. U pacientů s LGG (low grade glioma), kdy je průběh jejich nemoci mnohem pozvolnější - nejsou jednoznačná doporučení pro zahájení multidisciplinární PP. Ta by měla být indikována a zahájena či započata v závislosti na jejich aktuálním zdravotním a psychickém stavu, s cílem co nejdéle udržet dobrou kvalitu jejich života v průběhu onemocnění. Cílem tohoto sdělení je přinést přehled nejčastějších symptomů u pacientů s primárním nádorem mozku s možností ovlivnění těchto symptomů v rámci PP.
Palliative care (PP) is active multidisciplinary care, which is not primarily aimed at prolonging life or treatment of cancer patients, but at alleviating the symptoms of the underlying disease and thereby improving their quality of life. PP should already be provided during complex oncological care and be an integral part of it. This trend also applies to neuro-oncology patients with a primary brain tumour. Patients with a primary brain tumour do not belong to the most numerous group of oncology patients, but given that, in addition to general symptoms of oncological disease, they are also affected by a progressive neurological disease, they are a specific group of patients. During the care of these patients, PP tries to solve and positively influence not only the symptoms related to the oncological disease, but also includes psychological, social and spiritual care. In the event that the possibilities of oncological antitumor treatment are exhausted, or the treatment is terminated for various reasons, PP becomes the main treatment procedure. For patients with HGG (high grade glioma) - considering the progressive course of this disease - PP should be started immediately after surgery at the same time as the start of their oncological therapy. In patients with LGG (low grade glioma) - when the course of their disease is much more gradual - there are no clear recommendations for the initiation of multidisciplinary PP. This should be indicated and started depending on their current health and psychological state, with the aim of maintaining their good quality of life as long as possible during the course of the disease. The aim of this review article is to provide an overview of the most common symptoms in patients with a primary brain tumour with the possibility of influencing these symptoms within the framework of PP.
Amyotrofická laterální skleróza (ALS) je neurodegenerativní onemocnění s progresivní ztrátou mozkových a míšních motoneuronů s postupnou generalizací. Léčba je převážně symptomatická s významným zapojením paliativní medicíny. Subjektivně obtěžující sialorea je způsobena narušením mechanismu polykání. V symptomatické léčbě se uplatňuje i terapeutické ozáření slinných žláz. Práce popisuje tři kazuistiky s využitím radioterapie v léčbě hypersalivace. Radioterapie může přispět ke zvýšení kvality života pacientů i jejich rodin.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease with progressive loss of cerebral and spinal motoneurons with involvement of all muscle groups limited by complete paralysis. Treatment is symptomatic, supported by the involvement of palliative medicine. Subjectively annoying is hypersalivation caused by overproduction of viscous saliva and disruption of the swallowing mechanism. Therapeutic irradiation of the salivary glands is a treatment possibility in symptomatic therapy. The work describes three case reports using radiotherapy in the treatment of hypersalivation. Radiotherapy can help improve the quality of life of patients and their families.
- Publikační typ
- abstrakt z konference MeSH
