Role of Avastin for Treatment of Central Nervous System Radiation Necrosis

Abstract

Avastin for Treatment of Central Nervous System Radiation Necrosis

Radiation therapy continues to be a common therapy for most primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors, tumors that metastasize to the CNS, and tumors of the head and neck. Radiation injury is an inevitable side effect in many of these cases. Understanding the pathophysiology and clinical manifestation of different stages of radiation injury is crucial for developing methods to maximally mitigate radiation injury. In this chapter, we discuss the classification of radiation injury and emphasize the potential mechanisms of radiation necrosis. More importantly, our clinical experience and ongoing clinical studies of treatment for radiation necrosis are discussed. Hopefully, these efforts will substantially assist the field of treatment of radiation necrosis to move forward.

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