A narrative review of clinical manifestations and pathogenetic mechanisms of neuropathy induced by radiation therapy

Radiation therapy for cancer treatment can cause damage to the nervous system. Although the overall survival of cancer patients has increased with advances in therapy, such as surgery, radiotherapy, and systemic therapy. It is critical to assess the late adverse events caused by radiation therapy, such as cognitive decline, brain necrosis, and radiation-induced tumorigenesis. These adverse events are mostly irreversible and can significantly decrease the quality of life. The mechanism by which radiation therapy damages nerve cells is not fully understood, and neurons may not be as resistant to radiation as previously thought.It is important to weigh the benefits of radiation therapy in cancer treatment strategies against the possible risks of both acute and late adverse events. Long-term follow-up with these conditions is advised to improve survival and quality of life. This narrative review focused on the clinical manifestations and pathogenetic mechanisms of radiation-induced neuropathy.