A patient with a history of whole-brain radiation is experiencing headaches and confusion. What condition should the nurse suspect?

In this scenario, the patient's symptoms of headaches and confusion, combined with their history of whole-brain radiation, strongly suggest the presence of increased intracranial pressure (ICP). Whole-brain radiation can lead to various complications, including edema or swelling in the brain tissue, which can result in elevated ICP.

Increased intracranial pressure can manifest as a range of neurological symptoms, such as headaches, confusion, visual disturbances, and altered mental status. These symptoms occur because the increased pressure within the skull can affect brain function and circulation.

The history of radiation further supports this suspicion since radiation therapy can damage blood-brain barrier integrity and cause inflammatory responses. Therefore, the symptoms presented by the patient are indicative of the underlying issue of increased intracranial pressure, making it a critical condition to identify for appropriate management and intervention.