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Abstract #4214

Developmental Differences in Deep Gray Matter Nuclei Tissue Integrity & Neuropsychological Performance in Healthy Children & Patients Treated with Brain Radiation

Anna Nidecker1, Jarunee Intrapiromkul1, Firouzeh Tannazi1, Todd McNutt2, Siamak Ardekani3, Rebecca Martin4, Moody D. Wharam2, Ernest Mark Mahone4,5, Alena Horska1

1Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology & Radiological Science, the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States; 2Radiation Oncology & Molecular Radiation Sciences, the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States; 3Institute for Computational Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; 4Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, United States; 5Department of Psychiatry & Behavior Sciences, the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States


Whole brain radiation therapy has improved survival among children with brain malignancies but can generate an array of adverse effects. Diffusion tensor imaging of 9 pediatric patients receiving whole brain radiation and 9 age-matched controls over a period of 27 months demonstrated significantly higher ADC values in deep gray matter among patients at all time points, although they scored better on neuropsychological testing. The difference in diffusivity was apparent before the start of radiation, suggesting that RT is not completely responsible for the abnormalities observed, and that these changes are observed on DTI before they may become clinically apparent.