Radiologic findings in patients treated with boron neutron capture therapy for glioblastoma multiforme within EORTC trial 11961.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the occurrence and development of cerebral radiologic changes (cerebral atrophy and white matter lesions) in patients treated with boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) for primary supratentorial glioblastoma multiforme within the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) trial 11961.


METHODS
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were performed before and after surgery and at 1 week and 2, 4.5, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 months after BNCT. For the current study, MRI scans of all assessable patients were analyzed, with emphasis on cerebral atrophy and white matter abnormalities.


RESULTS
Twenty-six patients had been treated with BNCT according to the EORTC trial 11961, of whom 24 were assessable for the current study. The development of possible BNCT-related cerebral changes was observed in 12 patients (50%), 10 of whom had cerebral atrophy (42%) and 10 white matter changes (42%) after a median interval of 7.5 and 4.5 months, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study, cerebral radiologic changes appeared in 50% of patients within the first year after BNCT. Although a clear correlation between the BNCT dose and the development of cerebral changes could not be demonstrated, a relationship between the occurrence of these radiologic abnormalities and BNCT seems likely.
Vos
Maaike J
MJ
Department of Neurology, VU University Medical Center, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands. mj.vos@vumc.nl
Turowski
Bernd
B
Zanella
Friedhelm E
FE
Paquis
Philippe
P
Siefert
Axel
A
Hideghéty
Katalin
K
Haselsberger
Klaus
K
Grochulla
Frank
F
Postma
Tjeerd J
TJ
Wittig
Andrea
A
Heimans
Jan J
JJ
Slotman
Ben J
BJ
Vandertop
W Peter
WP
Sauerwein
Wolfgang
W
D000368:Aged; D001284:Atrophy / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D016754:Boron Neutron Capture Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies