Dose-dependent white matter damage after brain radiotherapy.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

Brain radiotherapy is limited in part by damage to white matter, contributing to neurocognitive decline. We utilized diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) with multiple b-values (diffusion weightings) to model the dose-dependency and time course of radiation effects on white matter.

Materials and methods

Fifteen patients with high-grade gliomas treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy underwent MRI with DTI prior to radiotherapy, and after months 1, 4-6, and 9-11. Diffusion tensors were calculated using three weightings (high, standard, and low b-values) and maps of fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (λ_∥), and radial diffusivity (λ_⊥) were generated. The region of interest was all white matter.

Resul

SUBMITTER: Connor M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5136508 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature