Abstract
BACKGROUND: Stroke-like Migraine Attacks after Radiation Therapy Syndrome (SMART) is a rare, delayed complication of radiation therapy and its real incidence is unknown. In this study, clinical and treatment features of two cases with clinical and radiological diagnosis of SMART are presented. METHODS: Case-1: 49 years old male was diagnosed with grade-3 Oligodendroglioma; after gross total surgery treated with 60 Gy local cranial radiotherapy and temozolomide. Patient presented with acute left-sided weakness and numbness, episodic myoclonic jerking of the left arm and leg, 6 years after treatment. Contrast-enhanced MRI and MR angiography revealed no sign of a recurrent tumor but contrast uptake at right parietooccipital cortical giriform in the lobe of the right temporal lobe on post-contrast images (FLAIR and T1) and an increase in cortical blood volume are observed in perfusion MRI (Figure A-B). The clinical and radiologic diagnosis was SMART syndrome. Pulse dose steroids was planned as the primary treatment, and neurological symptoms was completely disappeared. After 3.5 years of the primary episode, patient re-applied with acute headache, homonymous hemianopsia of the left eye and left sided hemiparesia. Cranial MRI revealed the similar features and after treatment with steroids for 7 days complete radiological and clinical regression was experienced. Case-2: 60 years old female with a right occipital grade-3 oligodendroglioma treated with resection followed by local cranial radiotherapy (60 Gy) and temozolomide chemotherapy. Ten years after the treatment she presented with severe headache, expressive aphasia and homonymous hemianopsia of the left eye. Contrast-enhanced MRI and MR angiography revealed no sign of a recurrent tumor but contrast uptake at right occipital cortical giriform on post-contrast images (FLAIR and T1) and an increase in cortical blood volume are observed in perfusion MRI (Figurec. The diagnosis was SMART syndrome. After one week of steroid treatment she completely recovered. Similar complaints recurred 9 months after the first episode and completely recovered with steroids in one week. Radiological finding disappeared in 2 months. CONCLUSION: SMART syndrome represents an acute-onset rare condition which may result in serious consequences if not diagnosed and treated properly. It usualy appears years after cranial radiation therapy. Clinical signs and radiological findings may resemble tumor recurrence and distinction from real tumor progression is essential. Treatment is symptomatic, most patients recover with steroids and radiological signs disappear completely, however SMART episodes may recur during the follow-up which can be treated similarly.