title: Brain imaging findings in symptomatic patients after allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation: correlation with clinical outcome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the risk factors for, and the incidence of, structural abnormalities on brain imaging in allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) patients, and correlate these findings with survival.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed all brain computed tomography (CT) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies obtained during the first post-HSCT year from 2004 thru 2007 in allogeneic HSCT recipients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 128 patients had brain imaging in the first post-HSCT year. Forty one of these 128 patients (32 %) had structural abnormalities on brain imaging: cerebrovascular complications (n = 10), central nervous system (CNS) infection (n = 9), subdural fluid collection (n = 6), CNS recurrence of haematological malignancy (n = 11), and drug toxicity abnormalities (n = 5). The only significant risk factor for structural imaging abnormality was younger patient age (P = 0.01). MRI was significantly more likely than CT to provide specific imaging diagnosis of cerebral lesions (P = 0.001). HSCT patients with cerebrovascular complications have poor survival (P < 0.05). However, overall survival was not significantly worse for the 41 patients with the structural imaging abnormalities as compared to the 87 patients who had brain imaging but no structural abnormalities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no survival difference in patients whose brain imaging was normal or abnormal. However, there was poor outcome in patients with cerebrovascular complications after HSCT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  • Brain imaging frequently demonstrates neurological complications following haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.                                                  • Younger HSCT patients are more likely to exhibit abnormal brain imaging findings.                                                  • HSCT recipients with cerebrovascular complications have the worst survival.                                                  • However brain imaging results are weak indicators of overall survival after HSCT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA. bechen@coh.org
authors.forename: Bihong T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: A Orlando
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Ortiz
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dagis
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Torricelli
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: Harry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Openshaw
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059906:Neuroimaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult