Transient focal alopecia following radiosurgery

Radiosurgery is currently employed for the management of a variety of neurosurgical pathologies, including cerebral arteriovenous malformations, small benign intracranial tumors such as meningioma and acoustic schwannoma, and selected malignant tumors such as metastases. Radiosurgery represents an effective treatment alternative whenever direct surgical intervention is felt to be contraindicated . Complications of radiosurgery are reportedly infrequent and typically related to radiation injury of brain tissue or cranial nerves surrounding the target. For the most part, these side effects take place months to years after treatment. Acute side effects of radiosurgery include seizures, vomiting and headaches. Alopecia is a frequent complication of fractionated radiation to the skull, but has only once been reported with radiosurgery. We experienced this complication in one of 35 patients in our series. (authors). 6 refs