Acute methotrexate neurotoxicity: findings on diffusion-weighted imaging and correlation with clinical outcome.
OBJECTIVE
Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is a common malignancy of childhood treated with methotrexate (MTX), which is associated with acute neurotoxicity. We evaluated diffusion-weighted (DW) and conventional MR images in children with ALL and acute MTX-induced neurotoxicity, with clinical correlation.


METHODS
Five patients aged 12-15 years underwent fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR), T2-weighted fast spin-echo and gradient-echo, T1-weighted gadolinium-enhanced spin-echo, and DW imaging within 24 hours of symptom onset. Records were reviewed for the temporal relationship to MTX administration, strokelike symptoms, and neurologic outcome.


RESULTS
Six strokelike events were temporally related to intrathecal MTX given 6-11 days before symptom onset. FLAIR images showed abnormal hyperintensity in the callosal splenium in one patient but were otherwise normal. Diffusion abnormalities were frontoparietal in three events and frontal in one; nonfluent aphasia was seen in all. Bilateral frontoparietal diffusion abnormalities were associated with bilateral upper-extremity weakness, right-sided hemiparesis, or left-sided hemiparesis (one patient each); one patient had mild facial droop. Unilateral precentral subcortical diffusion abnormality was associated with contralateral motor deficit and ipsilateral upper-extremity sensory loss. Strokelike symptoms resolved rapidly and were not associated with other signs of encephalopathy. Subsequent intrathecal MTX administration was not associated with recurrence in four patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Diffusion abnormalities in acute MTX neurotoxicity indicated cerebral dysfunction but not necessarily overt structural injury to the cerebrum. Subsequent demyelination or gliosis could not be predicted on the basis of diffusion abnormalities. A single strokelike episode with diffusion abnormalities should not necessarily prompt modification of potentially curative chemotherapeutic regimens.
Rollins
Nancy
N
Department of Pediatric Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Children's Medical Center of Dallas, 1935 Motor St., Dallas, TX 75235, USA.
Winick
Naomi
N
Bash
Robert
R
Booth
Timothy
T
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000506:poisoning* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001039:Aphasia, Broca / Q000139:chemically induced; D001132:Arm; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D002648:Child; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D004409:Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000506:poisoning* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000139:chemically induced; D020258:Neurotoxicity Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis*; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D020521:Stroke / Q000139:chemically induced
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D008727:Methotrexate