European practice on neurovascular late effects after pediatric radiotherapy: considerations on dose planning and follow-up – a HARMONIC/SIOPE ROWG survey

Authors

  • Laura Toussaint Danish Centre for Particle Therapy, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
  • Louise Tram Henriksen Centre for Paediatric and Adolescent Cancer, Department of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
  • Karen Van Beek Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
  • Stephanie Bolle Institut Gustave Roussy, Department of Radiation Oncology, Villejuif, France
  • Charlotte Demoor-Goldschmidt Cancer and Radiation Team, INSERM UMRS 1018, Villejuif, France; Paediatric oncology and hematology, University Hospital of Caen, Caen, France; Paediatric oncology and hematology, University Hospital of Angers, Angers, France
  • Jenny Gains Department of Oncology, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
  • Morten Høyer Danish Centre for Particle Therapy, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
  • Geert O. Janssens Department of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Princess Maxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
  • Rolf-Dieter Kortmann Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
  • Catia Martins Pedro Radiotherapy Department, Instituto Português de Oncologia Francisco Gentil, Centro de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
  • Beate Timmermann West German Proton Therapy Centre (WPE), Essen University Hospital, Essen, Germany; West German Cancer Centre (WTZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Essen, Germany
  • Katrin Scheinemann Division of Oncology/ Hematology, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Switzerland, St. Gallen, Switzerland; Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland
  • Yasmin Lassen-Ramshad Danish Centre for Particle Therapy, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2340/1651-226X.2025.43028

Keywords:

pediatrics, late effects, Neurovascular, external beam radiotherapy, brain tumors

Abstract

Background and purpose: The risk of developing neurovascular late effects after radiotherapy is an area of concern when treating pediatric brain tumor patients. However, knowledge is sparse regarding best practice for clinical management during the radiotherapy (RT) planning process and follow-up examinations. This study therefore aimed at mapping how the risk of neurovascular late effects is considered for pediatric brain or skull base tumor patients treated with radiotherapy in Europe.

Materials and methods: Two web-based surveys ‑ a RT and a pediatric oncology (PO) survey - were distributed to members of the SIOPE radiotherapy working group or PANCARE and SIOPE brain tumor group, respectively.

Results: The RT survey was completed by 47 participants from 18 different European countries and the PO survey by 33 participants (mostly pediatric (neuro)oncologists) from 15 countries. Overall, the answers highlighted that neurovascular late effects are currently not well included in European clinical practice, neither at the time of radiotherapy nor in the follow-up process.

Interpretation: There is a need for raising general awareness about the topic, as well as for potential risk-stratified prevention measures and follow-up guidelines.

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References

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Published

2025-05-22

How to Cite

Toussaint, L., Tram Henriksen, L., Van Beek, K., Bolle, S., Demoor-Goldschmidt, C., Gains, J., … Lassen-Ramshad, Y. (2025). European practice on neurovascular late effects after pediatric radiotherapy: considerations on dose planning and follow-up – a HARMONIC/SIOPE ROWG survey. Acta Oncologica, 64, 703–707. https://doi.org/10.2340/1651-226X.2025.43028

Issue

Vol. 64 (2025): Acta Oncologica

Section

Short report

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Copyright (c) 2025 Laura Toussaint, Louise Tram Henriksen, Karen Van Beek, Stephanie Bolle, Charlotte Demoor-Goldschmidt, Jenny Gains, Morten Høyer, Geert O. Janssens, Rolf-Dieter Kortmann, Catia Martins Pedro, Beate Timmermann, Katrin Scheinemann, Yasmin Lassen-Ramshad

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.