Liya Wang1,
2, Tricia King3, Hui Mao1, 2
1Department
of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United
States; 2Center for Systems Imaging, Emory University, Atlanta,
GA, United States; 3Department of Psychology, Georgia State
University, Atlanta, GA, United States
Radiotherapy causes treatment-related white matter (WM) integrity changes and potential functional impairments. While predicting short-term outcomes (less 5 years) has been investigated, factors affecting predicting longer term (over 10 years) outcomes have not been understood. This study aimed for quantitative evaluation of WM microstructure damages using diffusion tensor imaging and determining correlation of such damage with long-term brain function restrictions in adult survivors of childhood brain tumors so that we can better understand the progression of microstructure damage underlying the brain functioning decline by recognizing complications of radiotherapy. It can lead to optimize radiotherapy techniques to minimize collateral brain damage.