Assessment of changes in structural connectivity of the central executive network during cranial radiotherapy in children treated for medulloblastoma
Wilburn E Reddick1, John O Glass1, Elizabeth C Duncan1, Jung Won Hyun2, Qing Ji1, Yimei Li2, and Amar Gajjar3
1Diagnostic Imaging, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States, 2Biostatistics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States, 3Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
Diffusion tensor imaging from 30 childhood medulloblastoma
patients were analyzed to assess changes in structural connectivity of the
central executive network (CEN) in response to cranial irradiation. Significant
drops in fractional anisotropy and axial diffusivity (AX) were demonstrated in
most of the CEN subnetworks after irradiation. Furthermore, patients receiving
the highest CRT dose had significantly decreased AX in all subnetworks of the
CEN. These findings suggest significant reduction in the microstructural
integrity within the CEN immediately after CRT in this population and support
the use of the CEN model for evaluating changes in cerebral white matter early
in therapy.
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