Magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the evaluation of neurotoxicity following cranial irradiation for childhood cancer.
In order to evaluate the role of proton MR spectroscopy (1H-MRS) in the diagnosis and assessment of long-term radiation-related neurotoxicity, 14 children who had received cranial irradiation for the treatment of childhood leukaemia (n = 6) or brain tumours (n = 8) underwent 1H-MRS, MRI and neuropsychological assessment. Short-term effects at 2 months following treatment were studied in a further three patients. MRI abnormalities were observed in nine patients. No statistically significant differences between patients and controls (n = 17) were seen in any of the calculated 1H-MRS metabolite ratios, in any of the three patient groups. On multivariate logistic regression analysis there was a correlation between the choline/water ratio and a low IQ. It is concluded that any systematic radiation-induced changes in the 1H MRS metabolites must be below the detection threshold of this study.
Davidson
A
A
Royal Marsden NHS Trust, Sutton, Surrey, UK.
Tait
D M
DM
Payne
G S
GS
Hopewell
J W
JW
Leach
M O
MO
Watson
M
M
MacVicar
A D
AD
Britton
J A
JA
Ashley
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D017254:Leukemic Infiltration / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*