Stroke and Cerebrovascular Complications in Childhood Cancer Survivors

The outcomes for childhood cancer have drastically improved over the last several decades. Previously, irradiation was commonly used for blood-borne (leukemia, lymphoma) cancers and neck and brain tumors. Radiation therapy remains the mainstay of treatment for highly malignant cancers of head and neck and for some primary central nervous system tumors. Unfortunately, radiation therapy has been implicated as a contributor to many late effects of treatment, including cerebrovascular disease from large-vessel vascular injury, stroke, moyamoya, mineralizing microangiopathy, to stroke-like migraine. This review summarizes the pathophysiology of these disorders in relationship to treatment with and without radiation as well as the relevant manifestations of radiation-induced cerebrovascular disease. Patient populations at highest risk and current recommendations for health providers and patient education are emphasized when possible.