Post-irradiation vasculopathy of intracranial major arteries in children--report of two cases.

We report two rare cases of post-irradiation vasculopathy of intracranial major arteries in children. A 13-year-old girl suffered from transient right hemiparesis 1 year after irradiation for suprasellar germinoma. Left carotid angiograms revealed marked stenoses of the intracranial internal carotid, middle cerebral, and anterior cerebral arteries, which were previously normal, and moyamoya vessels. A 2.5-year-old girl underwent internal irradiation with 198Au colloid for cystic craniopharyngioma. At the age of 10 years, she suddenly became unconscious after vomiting. Computed tomographic scans showed a right frontal intracerebral hematoma. Right carotid angiograms disclosed complete obstruction of the intracranial internal carotid, middle cerebral, and anterior cerebral arteries and moyamoya vessels, previously not present. The danger of radiation therapy causing occlusive vasculopathy in small and major cerebral arteries in children is emphasized. To prevent permanent ischemic neurological deficits, vasculopathy should be treated either medically or surgically as early as possible.