The long-term effects of central nervous system therapy on children with brain tumors.

Survivals of children with brain tumors have increased over the past 20 years owing to advances in surgery, radiation, and, most recently, chemotherapy. Unfortunately, central nervous system therapy, particularly radiation, may be associated with the development of dementia and learning disabilities, leukoencephalopathy, endocrinopathies, and oncogenesis. Recognition of these long-term effects of therapy is important as some are amenable to treatment and others may be prevented by modification of current treatment regimens.