Radiation-induced brain necrosis (RIBN) is a common adverse event from radiation therapy. We present a case of a 56-year-old man, diagnosed with non-small-cell lung cancer with brain metastases 2 years prior, for which he had received whole brain radiotherapy and brain stereotactic radiosurgery, who presented to the oncology unit with headache, dizziness and abnormal gait. MRI of the brain revealed radiological worsening of a cerebellar mass, including edema and mass effect. After a multidisciplinary tumor board meeting, the patient was diagnosed with RIBN and received 4 cycles of high-dose bevacizumab, with complete symptom resolution and significant radiological response. We report the successful use of a high-dose, shorter-duration treatment protocol of bevacizumab for RIBN.
Keywords: bevacizumab; brain neoplasms; carcinoma; case report; non-small-cell lung; radiosurgery.
Radiation therapy, which is commonly used in the treatment of cancer, often causes cells to die. We report the case of a 56-year-old man with lung cancer that had spread to his brain, who received radiation therapy, but later experienced symptoms like headache, dizziness and difficulty walking. Scans showed that the radiation had caused damage to his brain, specifically a mass in the cerebellum. The patient received bevacizumab, a drug that inhibits the growth of new blood vessels, in a higher dose than usual but for fewer times overall. After treatment, the patient was completely symptom-free, while the scans showed significant improvement.