The effects of radiation therapy on height and spine MRI characteristics in children with neuroblastoma.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of radiotherapy (RT) on height and spine using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis in children with neuroblastoma and to identify parameters related to patient height.


METHODS
We performed a retrospective cohort study of neuroblastoma patients treated between January 1997 and December 2007. Twenty-seven children were enrolled. Whole spine MRI was completed and height percentiles were compared with national growth charts.


RESULTS
The median ages were 28, 43, and 126 months at diagnosis, RT, and analysis, respectively. All of the enrolled children received local RT, and 15 patients received total body irradiation (TBI). Median growth percentiles were 67.0, 54.0, and 4.9 at diagnosis, RT, and analysis, respectively. The number of irradiated vertebrae (P=0.009) and having undergone TBI (P=0.03) were significantly associated with shorter stature. Among the MRI parameters for irradiated vertebrae, signal intensity was higher (P=0.05) and more heterogeneous (P=0.02) in T1-weighted images and roundness was lower (P=0.03) in T2-weighted images.


CONCLUSIONS
Height of children with neuroblastoma was significantly affected by RT. The number of irradiated vertebrae and having undergone TBI were significantly associated with lower height. Irradiated spine showed changes in both signal and shape on MRI.
Department of Radiation Oncology, Samsung Medical Center, Republic of Korea.
Jeong Il
JI
Yu
Department of Radiation Oncology, Samsung Medical Center, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: dh8.lim@samsung.com.
Do Hoon
DH
Lim
Department of Radiation Oncology, Samsung Medical Center, Republic of Korea.
Sang Hoon
SH
Jung
Department of Pediatrics, Samsung Medical Center, Republic of Korea.
Ki Woong
KW
Sung
Department of Radiology, Samsung Medical Center, Republic of Korea.
So-Young
SY
Yoo
Department of Radiation Oncology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Heerim
H
Nam
D000293:Adolescent; D001827:Body Height; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013131:Spine; D014916:Whole-Body Irradiation
Height; Neuroblastoma; Pediatric; Radiotherapy