A nurse is caring for a toddler who received radiation therapy 2 years ago for a brain tumor. Which of the following should the nurse identify as a late adverse effect of the radiation therapy?

A. Mucosal ulceration: This is an acute side effect of radiation therapy that typically occurs during or shortly after treatment, not a late effect. It results from damage to rapidly dividing mucosal cells and usually resolves after therapy ends. B. Desquamation: Skin peeling or desquamation is an acute reaction occurring within days to weeks after radiation exposure and is not a late adverse effect. It happens due to the breakdown of epidermal cells but heals once the radiation stops. C. Nausea: Nausea is commonly an immediate or early side effect related to radiation therapy, especially when the brain or gastrointestinal tract is involved. It is often managed symptomatically and usually resolves after completion of therapy. D. Short stature: Growth retardation or short stature is a recognized late adverse effect of radiation therapy in children, especially when the brain or growth centers are irradiated. Radiation can impair pituitary hormone production or directly affect bone growth plates, leading to permanent growth deficits that manifest months to years after treatment.