John O. Glass1, Wilburn E. Reddick1,
Sima Jeha2
1Division of Translational
Imaging Research, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United
States; 2Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research
Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
This study used diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to evaluate 52 pediatric ALL patients. Twenty-six patients with normal appearing studies were selected to age match 26 subjects with conventional imaging evidence of leukoencephalopathy (LE). A voxel-based analysis previously defined a region of interest (ROI) where T2 weighted hyperintensities commonly occurred in patients during treatment. Mean values of the DTI metrics were extracted for the ROI and independent samples T-tests were performed. Significant differences were demonstrated in decreased FA and increased radial diffusivity indicating an inflammatory / demyelinating process in the patients with LE.
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