Neurological Complications of Systemic Cancer and Antineoplastic Therapy PDF

Preface

Involvement of the nervous system is one of the most dreaded complications of systemic cancer, striking fear into the hearts of patients and their loved ones and often causing considerable trepidation in their physicians. This issue is still prevalent despite numerous advances in cancer therapy over the past 50 years. Neurologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and neuro-oncologists in practice need to be aware of the broad spectrum of neurological complications of cancer that can occur in their patients, and be well versed in the newest approaches to diagnosis and treatment. This is critical since rapid diagnosis and institution of appropriate therapy may minimize neurological injury and preserve quality of life.

The field of neuro-oncology has made considerable strides since it was nurtured by the likes of Drs Jerome Posner, Harry Greenberg, Victor Levin, and Nicholas Vick many years ago. Dramatic advances have been made in neuroimaging of the nervous system, with advanced MRI techniques that permit much earlier detection of metastatic involvement and nervous system injury. Radiation therapy protocols have also become much more varied, with the advent of stereotactic radiosurgery, Intensity Modulated Radio Therapy (IMRT), and TomoTherapy, and the ability to execute conformal treatment plans. Neurosurgical approaches to neuro-oncological complications, such as image-guided surgical resections and intraoperative MRI, are now more widely accepted and important for maximizing survival and avoiding neurological deficits. Progress in molecular biology has improved our understanding of the neoplastic genotype and phenotype, and has ushered in a new era of individualized neuro-oncology treatment—molecular therapeutics—with its own unique spectrum of toxicity and effects on the nervous system.

The goal of this book is to provide an up-to-date, comprehensive, single-volume reference work on the neurological complications of systemic cancer and its treatment. This book should be helpful to medical students, residents, and fellows, as well as to more seasoned attending clinicians. It covers a wide range of topics, including metastatic neurological complications, nonmetastatic neurological complications, complications related to specific neoplasms, complications of antineoplastic therapy, and supportive care issues. Each chapter is written by an expert (or experts) in the field of neuro-oncology or a similarly related discipline, and offers in-depth information on the oncological background, differential diagnosis, and diagnostic evaluation for each topic, as well as more practical management strategies for patient care. We hope this book will improve the ability of clinicians caring for cancer patients to expeditiously and accurately recognize and treat neuro-oncological complications, thereby optimizing neurological function and quality of life.