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Drabek-Maunder ER, Mankad K, Aquilina K, Dean JA, Nisbet A, Clark CA. Using diffusion MRI to understand white matter damage and the link between brain microstructure and cognitive deficits in paediatric medulloblastoma patients. Eur J Radiol 2024; 177:111562. [PMID: 38901074 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2024.111562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Survivors of medulloblastoma face a range of challenges after treatment, involving behavioural, cognitive, language and motor skills. Post-treatment outcomes are associated with structural changes within the brain resulting from both the tumour and the treatment. Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been used to investigate the microstructure of the brain. In this review, we aim to summarise the literature on diffusion MRI in patients treated for medulloblastoma and discuss future directions on how diffusion imaging can be used to improve patient quality. METHOD This review summarises the current literature on medulloblastoma in children, focusing on the impact of both the tumour and its treatment on brain microstructure. We review studies where diffusion MRI has been correlated with either treatment characteristics or cognitive outcomes. We discuss the role diffusion MRI has taken in understanding the relationship between microstructural damage and cognitive and behavioural deficits. RESULTS We identified 35 studies that analysed diffusion MRI changes in patients treated for medulloblastoma. The majority of these studies found significant group differences in measures of brain microstructure between patients and controls, and some of these studies showed associations between microstructure and neurocognitive outcomes, which could be influenced by patient characteristics (e.g. age), treatment, radiation dose and treatment type. CONCLUSIONS In future, studies would benefit from being able to separate microstructural white matter damage caused by the tumour, tumour-related complications and treatment. Additionally, advanced diffusion modelling methods can be explored to understand and describe microstructural changes to white matter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily R Drabek-Maunder
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guildford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK; UCL Dept of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Malet Place, Gower St, London WC1E 6BT, UK; Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, Great Ormond St, London WC1N 3JH, UK.
| | - Kshitij Mankad
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guildford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK; Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, Great Ormond St, London WC1N 3JH, UK
| | - Kristian Aquilina
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guildford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK; Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, Great Ormond St, London WC1N 3JH, UK
| | - Jamie A Dean
- UCL Dept of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Malet Place, Gower St, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Andrew Nisbet
- UCL Dept of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Malet Place, Gower St, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Chris A Clark
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guildford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK; Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, Great Ormond St, London WC1N 3JH, UK
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2
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Mahajan A, Stavinoha PL, Rongthong W, Brodin NP, McGovern SL, El Naqa I, Palmer JD, Vennarini S, Indelicato DJ, Aridgides P, Bowers DC, Kremer L, Ronckers C, Constine L, Avanzo M. Neurocognitive Effects and Necrosis in Childhood Cancer Survivors Treated With Radiation Therapy: A PENTEC Comprehensive Review. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2024; 119:401-416. [PMID: 33810950 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2020.11.073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 11/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE A PENTEC review of childhood cancer survivors who received brain radiation therapy (RT) was performed to develop models that aid in developing dose constraints for RT-associated central nervous system (CNS) morbidities. METHODS AND MATERIALS A comprehensive literature search, through the PENTEC initiative, was performed to identify published data pertaining to 6 specific CNS toxicities in children treated with brain RT. Treatment and outcome data on survivors were extracted and used to generate normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) models. RESULTS The search identified investigations pertaining to 2 of the 6 predefined CNS outcomes: neurocognition and brain necrosis. For neurocognition, models for 2 post-RT outcomes were developed to (1) calculate the risk for a below-average intelligence quotient (IQ) (IQ <85) and (2) estimate the expected IQ value. The models suggest that there is a 5% risk of a subsequent IQ <85 when 10%, 20%, 50%, or 100% of the brain is irradiated to 35.7, 29.1, 22.2, or 18.1 Gy, respectively (all at 2 Gy/fraction and without methotrexate). Methotrexate (MTX) increased the risk for an IQ <85 similar to a generalized uniform brain dose of 5.9 Gy. The model for predicting expected IQ also includes the effect of dose, age, and MTX. Each of these factors has an independent, but probably cumulative effect on IQ. The necrosis model estimates a 5% risk of necrosis for children after 59.8 Gy or 63.6 Gy (2 Gy/fraction) to any part of the brain if delivered as primary RT or reirradiation, respectively. CONCLUSIONS This PENTEC comprehensive review establishes objective relationships between patient age, RT dose, RT volume, and MTX to subsequent risks of neurocognitive injury and necrosis. A lack of consistent RT data and outcome reporting in the published literature hindered investigation of the other predefined CNS morbidity endpoints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita Mahajan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
| | - Peter L Stavinoha
- Division of Pediatrics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Warissara Rongthong
- Division of Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - N Patrik Brodin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
| | - Susan L McGovern
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Issam El Naqa
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Joshua D Palmer
- Department of Radiation Oncology, James Cancer Hospital at Ohio State University, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Sabina Vennarini
- Proton Therapy Center, Azienda Provinciale per I Servizi Sanitari, Trento, Italy
| | - Daniel J Indelicato
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Paul Aridgides
- Department of Radiation Oncology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York
| | - Daniel C Bowers
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, Texas
| | - Leontien Kremer
- Department of Pediatrics, UMC Amsterdam, Location AMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Pediatric Oncology, Princess Máxima Center for Paediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Cecile Ronckers
- Department of Pediatrics, UMC Amsterdam, Location AMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Pediatric Oncology, Princess Máxima Center for Paediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Institute of Biostatistics and Registry Research, Medical University Brandenburg-Theodor Fontane, Neuruppin, Germany
| | - Louis Constine
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York
| | - Michele Avanzo
- Medical Physics Department, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, Aviano, Italy
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3
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Glazer S, Kim YJ, Fecher M, Billetdeaux KA, Gilliland EB, Wilde EA, Olshefski R, Yeates KO, Vannatta K, Hoskinson KR. Higher order neurocognition in pediatric brain tumor survivors: What can we learn from white matter microstructure? Pediatr Blood Cancer 2024; 71:e30787. [PMID: 38014868 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.30787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pediatric brain tumor survivors (PBTS) experience neurocognitive late effects, including problems with working memory, processing speed, and other higher order skills. These skill domains are subserved by various white matter (WM) pathways, but not much is known about these brain-behavior links in PBTS. This study examined the anterior corona radiata (ACR), inferior fronto-occipital fasciculi (IFOF), and superior longitudinal fasciculi (SLF) by analyzing associations among diffusion metrics and neurocognition. PROCEDURE Thirteen PBTS and 10 healthy controls (HC), aged 9-14 years, completed performance-based measures of processing speed and executive function, and parents rated their child's day-to-day executive skills. Children underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with diffusion weighted imaging that yielded fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) values. Independent samples t-tests assessed group differences on neurocognitive and imaging measures, and pooled within-group correlations examined relationships among measures across groups. RESULTS PBTS performed more poorly than HC on measures of processing speed, divided attention, and shifting (d = -1.08 to -1.44). WM microstructure differences were significant in MD values for the bilateral SLF and ACR, with PBTS showing higher diffusivity (d = 0.75 to 1.21). Better processing speed, divided attention, and shifting were associated with lower diffusivity in the IFOF, SLF, and ACR, but were not strongly correlated with FA. CONCLUSIONS PBTS demonstrate poorer neurocognitive functioning that is linked to differences in WM microstructure, as evidenced by higher diffusivity in the ACR, SLF, and IFOF. These findings support the use of MD in understanding alterations in WM microstructure in PTBS and shed light on potential functions of these pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Glazer
- Center for Biobehavioral Health, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Young Jin Kim
- Center for Biobehavioral Health, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Department of Educational Psychology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Madison Fecher
- Center for Biobehavioral Health, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Katherine A Billetdeaux
- Center for Biobehavioral Health, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Erin B Gilliland
- Center for Biobehavioral Health, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Elisabeth A Wilde
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Randal Olshefski
- Section of Hematology/Oncology/Bone Marrow Transplantation, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Keith Owen Yeates
- Department of Psychology and Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Alberta Children's Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Kathryn Vannatta
- Center for Biobehavioral Health, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Kristen R Hoskinson
- Center for Biobehavioral Health, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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Troudi A, Tensaouti F, Cabarrou B, Arribarat G, Pollidoro L, Péran P, Sevely A, Roques M, Chaix Y, Bertozzi AI, Gambart M, Ducassou A, Baudou E, Laprie A. A Prospective Study of Arterial Spin Labelling in Paediatric Posterior Fossa Tumour Survivors: A Correlation with Neurocognitive Impairment. Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol) 2024; 36:56-64. [PMID: 37805352 DOI: 10.1016/j.clon.2023.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Posterior fossa tumours (PFTs), which account for two-thirds of paediatric brain tumours, are successfully treated in about 70% of patients, but most survivors experience long-term cognitive impairment. We evaluated arterial spin labelling (ASL), a common, non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique, as a biomarker of cognitive impairment in a paediatric PFT survivor population. MATERIALS AND METHODS Sixty participants were prospectively analysed. PFT survivors were at least 5 years post-treatment and had been treated as appropriate for their age and type of tumour. Group 1 had received radiotherapy and Group 2 had not. Group 3 were healthy controls matched to Group 1 for age, sex and handedness. All participants underwent cognitive assessment and multimodal MRI, including an ASL perfusion sequence. We used semi-quantitative ASL methods to assess differences in mean perfusion in the thalamus, caudate, putamen and hippocampus. RESULTS Statistically, no significant associations between cognitive data and radiation doses were identified. Compared with healthy controls, Group 1 patients had significantly lower overall mean perfusion values (20-30% lower, depending on the cerebral structure) and Group 2 had slightly lower mean perfusion values (5-10% lower). Perfusion values did not correlate with total prescribed irradiation doses nor with doses received by different cerebral structures. Episodic and semantic memory test scores were significantly lower in Group 1 and correlated with lower mean absolute perfusion values in the hippocampus (P < 0.04). CONCLUSIONS These preliminary results indicate that radiotherapy affects the perfusion of specific cerebral structures and identify perfusion as a potential biomarker of hippocampus-dependent memory deficit.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Troudi
- ToNIC, Toulouse NeuroImaging Center, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, UPS, France
| | - F Tensaouti
- ToNIC, Toulouse NeuroImaging Center, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, UPS, France; Radiation Oncology Department, Institut Claudius Regaud- Institut Universitaire du Cancer de Toulouse-Oncopole, Toulouse, France.
| | - B Cabarrou
- Biostatistics & Health Data Science Unit, Institut Claudius Regaud/Institut Universitaire du Cancer de Toulouse - Oncopôle, Toulouse, France
| | - G Arribarat
- ToNIC, Toulouse NeuroImaging Center, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, UPS, France
| | - L Pollidoro
- ToNIC, Toulouse NeuroImaging Center, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, UPS, France; Radiology Department, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse, France
| | - P Péran
- ToNIC, Toulouse NeuroImaging Center, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, UPS, France
| | - A Sevely
- Radiology Department, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse, France
| | - M Roques
- ToNIC, Toulouse NeuroImaging Center, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, UPS, France; Radiology Department, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse, France
| | - Y Chaix
- ToNIC, Toulouse NeuroImaging Center, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, UPS, France; Pediatric Neurology Department, Children's Hospital, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse, France
| | - A-I Bertozzi
- Pediatric Oncology Department, Children's Hospital, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse, France
| | - M Gambart
- Pediatric Oncology Department, Children's Hospital, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse, France
| | - A Ducassou
- Radiation Oncology Department, Institut Claudius Regaud- Institut Universitaire du Cancer de Toulouse-Oncopole, Toulouse, France
| | - E Baudou
- ToNIC, Toulouse NeuroImaging Center, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, UPS, France; Pediatric Neurology Department, Children's Hospital, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse, France
| | - A Laprie
- ToNIC, Toulouse NeuroImaging Center, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, UPS, France; Radiation Oncology Department, Institut Claudius Regaud- Institut Universitaire du Cancer de Toulouse-Oncopole, Toulouse, France
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5
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Perez WD, Perez-Torres CJ. Neurocognitive and radiological changes after cranial radiation therapy in humans and rodents: a systematic review. Int J Radiat Biol 2023; 99:119-137. [PMID: 35511499 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2022.2074167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Radiation-induced brain injury is a common long-term side effect for brain cancer survivors, leading to a reduced quality of life. Although there is growing research pertaining to this topic, the relationship between cognitive and radiologically detected lesions of radiation-induced brain injury in humans remains unclear. Furthermore, clinically translatable similarities between rodent models and human findings are also undefined. The objective of this review is to then identify the current evidence of radiation-induced brain injury in humans and to compare these findings to current rodent models of radiation-induced brain injury. METHODS This review includes an examination of the current literature on cognitive and radiological characteristics of radiation-induced brain injury in humans and rodents. A thorough search was conducted on PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus to identify studies that performed cognitive assessments and magnetic resonance imaging techniques on either humans or rodents after cranial radiation therapy. A qualitative synthesis of the data is herein reported. RESULTS A total of 153 studies pertaining to cognitively or radiologically detected radiation injury of the brain are included in this systematic review; 106 studies provided data on humans while 47 studies provided data on rodents. Cognitive deficits in humans manifest across multiple domains after brain irradiation. Radiological evidence in humans highlight various neuroimaging-detectable changes post-irradiation. It is unclear, however, whether these findings reflect ground truth or research interests. Additionally, rodent models do not comprehensively reproduce characteristics of cognitive and radiological injury currently identified in humans. CONCLUSION This systematic review demonstrates that associations between and within cognitive and radiological radiation-induced brain injuries often rely on the type of assessment. Well-designed studies that evaluate the spectrum of potential injury are required for a precise understanding of not only the clinical significance of radiation-induced brain injury in humans, but also how to replicate injury development in pre-clinical models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Whitney D Perez
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Carlos J Perez-Torres
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.,Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.,Academy of Integrated Science, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA.,School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
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Tanedo J, Gajawelli N, Guo S, Baron Nelson M, Lepore N. White matter tract changes in pediatric posterior fossa brain tumor survivors after surgery and chemotherapy. FRONTIERS IN NEUROIMAGING 2022; 1:845609. [PMID: 37555139 PMCID: PMC10406254 DOI: 10.3389/fnimg.2022.845609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Survivors of pediatric posterior fossa brain tumors are susceptible to the adverse effects of treatment as they grow into adulthood. While the exact neurobiological mechanisms of these outcomes are not yet understood, the effects of treatment on white matter (WM) tracts in the brain can be visualized using diffusion tensor (DT) imaging. We investigated these WM microstructural differences using the statistical method tract-specific analysis (TSA). We applied TSA to the DT images of 25 children with a history of posterior fossa tumor (15 treated with surgery, 10 treated with surgery and chemotherapy) along with 21 healthy controls. Between these 3 groups, we examined differences in the most used DTI metric, fractional anisotropy (FA), in 11 major brain WM tracts. RESULTS Lower FA was found in the splenium of the corpus callosum (CC), the bilateral corticospinal tract (CST), the right inferior frontal occipital fasciculus (IFOF) and the left uncinate fasciculus (UF) in children with brain tumors as compared to healthy controls. Lower FA, an indicator of microstructural damage to WM, was observed in 4 of the 11 WM tracts examined in both groups of children with a history of posterior fossa tumor, with an additional tract unique to children who received surgery and chemotherapy (left UF). CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that a history of tumor in the posterior fossa and surgical resection may have effects on the WM in other parts of the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Tanedo
- CIBORG Laboratory, Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Niharika Gajawelli
- CIBORG Laboratory, Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Sharon Guo
- CIBORG Laboratory, Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Mary Baron Nelson
- CIBORG Laboratory, Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Natasha Lepore
- CIBORG Laboratory, Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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Sleurs C, Jacobs S, Counsell SJ, Christiaens D, Tournier JD, Sunaert S, Van Beek K, Uyttebroeck A, Deprez S, Batalle D, Lemiere J. Brain network hubs and cognitive performance of survivors of childhood infratentorial tumors. Radiother Oncol 2021; 161:118-125. [PMID: 34102233 DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2021.05.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Childhood infratentorial tumor patients frequently suffer from long-term cognitive deficits. As each constituent of their treatment can lead to neurotoxicity, cascade effects can lead to profound reorganization of the underlying brain network, the so-called 'connectome'. However, to date, few studies have assessed the relationship between brain network topology, the functional role of network hubs (i.e. highly connected regions), and neurocognitive outcomes in adult survivors of childhood infratentorial tumors. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, childhood infratentorial tumor survivors (n = 21: pilocytic astrocytoma (n = 8), ependymoma (n = 1) and medulloblastoma (n = 12)) and healthy controls (n = 21) were recruited. Using multishell diffusion-weighted MRI, microstructural organization and topology of supratentorial white matter was investigated; using a voxel-based approach, a fixel-based analysis, and a graph theoretical approach. In addition, neurocognitive subscales of the WAIS-IV intelligence test, and their relationship with nodal strength and network efficiency metrics were assessed. RESULTS Similar to earlier studies, we observed widespread decreases in fractional anisotropy (FA) in patients compared to controls, based on voxel-based analyses. In addition, the fixel-based analyses dissociated macro- from microstructural changes, which were encountered in in infratentorial versus supratentorial brain areas, respectively. Finally, regional reorganization (i.e. differences in local efficiency) occurred mainly in hubs, which suggests a specific vulnerability of these areas. These hubs were not only mostly affected, but also most strongly correlated with the intelligence subscales. CONCLUSION This study suggests that network hubs are functionally important for intellectual outcomes in infratentorial tumor survivors. Furthermore, these regions could be the primary targets of treatment toxicity. Validation of this specific hypothesis in larger samples is required.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sandra Jacobs
- Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Belgium; Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium
| | - Serena J Counsell
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Imaging Sciences & Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - Daan Christiaens
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Imaging Sciences & Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, United Kingdom; Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - J-Donald Tournier
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Imaging Sciences & Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - Stefan Sunaert
- Department of Radiology, University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium; Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Karen Van Beek
- Department of Radiotherapy, University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium
| | - Anne Uyttebroeck
- Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Belgium; Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sabine Deprez
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dafnis Batalle
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Imaging Sciences & Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, United Kingdom; Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - Jurgen Lemiere
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium
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8
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Peterson RK, Jones K, Jacobson LA. [Formula: see text]The contribution of sluggish cognitive tempo to processing speed in survivors of pediatric brain tumors. Child Neuropsychol 2021; 27:960-972. [PMID: 33866922 DOI: 10.1080/09297049.2021.1917529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Sluggish Cognitive Tempo (SCT) describes a pattern of under-activity, poor initiation, and slowness. It was first reported within the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) literature and found to be positively associated with the inattentive symptoms of ADHD and negatively or not significantly associated with the hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms of ADHD. SCT has since been considered applicable to the pediatric oncology population given the emergence of inattentive, sluggish symptoms secondary to cancer treatment. The present study examined the unique contribution of SCT to various processing speed skills in a clinical sample of pediatric brain tumor (BT) survivors in order to determine the degree to which SCT explained timed "cognitive" processing components. Measures included speeded naming, graphomotor speed, and speeded inhibition. Hierarchical linear regression analyses were used to predict performance-based measures of processing speed. After controlling for verbal ability and inattention, SCT, particularly Daydreamy SCT (β = -0.698, p = 0.023), explained 28% of variance in speeded inhibition. SCT did not add significantly to the prediction of speeded naming or graphomotor speed. Findings suggest that the "daydreamy" aspect of SCT, rather than "sluggishness" per se, may be related to more complex, cognitively-demanding tasks with greater executive functioning burdens in BT survivors. Implications for intervention for oncology survivors as well as future research directions are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel K Peterson
- Kennedy Krieger Institute Neuropsychology Department.,Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
| | - Kelly Jones
- Kennedy Krieger Institute Neuropsychology Department
| | - Lisa A Jacobson
- Kennedy Krieger Institute Neuropsychology Department.,Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
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9
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Baron Nelson MC, O'Neil SH, Tanedo J, Dhanani S, Malvar J, Nuñez C, Nelson MD, Tamrazi B, Finlay JL, Rajagopalan V, Lepore N. Brain biomarkers and neuropsychological outcomes of pediatric posterior fossa brain tumor survivors treated with surgical resection with or without adjuvant chemotherapy. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2021; 68:e28817. [PMID: 33251768 PMCID: PMC7755691 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.28817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Children with brain tumors experience cognitive late effects, often related to cranial radiation. We sought to determine differential effects of surgery and chemotherapy on brain structure and neuropsychological outcomes in children who did not receive cranial radiation therapy (CRT). METHODS Twenty-eight children with a history of posterior fossa tumor (17 treated with surgery, 11 treated with surgery and chemotherapy) underwent neuroimaging and neuropsychological assessment a mean of 4.5 years (surgery group) to 9 years (surgery + chemotherapy group) posttreatment, along with 18 healthy sibling controls. Psychometric measures assessed IQ, language, executive functions, processing speed, memory, and social-emotional functioning. Group differences and correlations between diffusion tensor imaging findings and psychometric scores were examined. RESULTS The z-score mapping demonstrated fractional anisotropy (FA) values were ≥2 standard deviations lower in white matter tracts, prefrontal cortex gray matter, hippocampus, thalamus, basal ganglia, and pons between patient groups, indicating microstructural damage associated with chemotherapy. Patients scored lower than controls on visuoconstructional reasoning and memory (P ≤ .02). Lower FA in the uncinate fasciculus (R = -0.82 to -0.91) and higher FA in the thalamus (R = 0.73-0.91) associated with higher IQ scores, and higher FA in the thalamus associated with higher scores on spatial working memory (R = 0.82). CONCLUSIONS Posterior fossa brain tumor treatment with surgery and chemotherapy affects brain microstructure and neuropsychological functioning years into survivorship, with spatial processes the most vulnerable. Biomarkers indicating cellular changes in the thalamus, hippocampus, pons, prefrontal cortex, and white matter tracts associate with lower psychometric scores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary C Baron Nelson
- Departments of Medical Education and Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, California
- Radiology Department, CIBORG Laboratory, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Sharon H O'Neil
- Radiology Department, CIBORG Laboratory, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- The Saban Research Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- Division of Neurology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Jeffrey Tanedo
- Radiology Department, CIBORG Laboratory, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- USC Viterbi School of Engineering, Los Angeles, California
| | - Sofia Dhanani
- The Saban Research Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, California
| | - Jemily Malvar
- Division of Hematology, Oncology and Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | | | - Marvin D Nelson
- Department of Radiology, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Benita Tamrazi
- Department of Radiology, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Jonathan L Finlay
- The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio
- Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Vidya Rajagopalan
- Radiology Department, CIBORG Laboratory, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Natasha Lepore
- Radiology Department, CIBORG Laboratory, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- USC Viterbi School of Engineering, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
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10
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Neuroimaging Biomarkers and Neurocognitive Outcomes in Pediatric Medulloblastoma Patients: a Systematic Review. THE CEREBELLUM 2021; 20:462-480. [PMID: 33417160 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-020-01225-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Medulloblastoma is a malign posterior fossa brain tumor, mostly occurring in childhood. The CNS-directed chemoradiotherapy treatment can be very harmful to the developing brain and functional outcomes of these patients. However, what the underlying neurotoxic mechanisms are remain inconclusive. Hence, this review summarizes the existing literature on the association between advanced neuroimaging and neurocognitive changes in patients that were treated for pediatric medulloblastoma. The PubMed/Medline database was extensively screened for studies investigating the link between cognitive outcomes and multimodal magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in childhood medulloblastoma survivors. A behavioral meta-analysis was performed on the available IQ scores. A total of 649 studies were screened, of which 22 studies were included. Based on this literature review, we conclude medulloblastoma patients to be at risk for white matter volume loss, more frequent white matter lesions, and changes in white matter microstructure. Such microstructural alterations were associated with lower IQ, which reached the clinical cut-off in survivors across studies. Using functional MR scans, changes in activity were observed in cerebellar areas, associated with working memory and processing speed. Finally, cerebral microbleeds were encountered more often, but these were not associated with cognitive outcomes. Regarding intervention studies, computerized cognitive training was associated with changes in prefrontal and cerebellar activation and physical training might result in microstructural and cortical alterations. Hence, to better define the neural targets for interventions in pediatric medulloblastoma patients, this review suggests working towards neuroimaging-based predictions of cognitive outcomes. To reach this goal, large multimodal prospective imaging studies are highly recommended.
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11
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Gomes CA, Steiner KM, Ludolph N, Spisak T, Ernst TM, Mueller O, Göricke SL, Labrenz F, Ilg W, Axmacher N, Timmann D. Resection of cerebellar tumours causes widespread and functionally relevant white matter impairments. Hum Brain Mapp 2021; 42:1641-1656. [PMID: 33410575 PMCID: PMC7978119 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Several diffusion tensor imaging studies reveal that white matter (WM) lesions are common in children suffering from benign cerebellar tumours who are treated with surgery only. The clinical implications of WM alterations that occur as a direct consequence of cerebellar disease have not been thoroughly studied. Here, we analysed structural and diffusion imaging data from cerebellar patients with chronic surgical lesions after resection for benign cerebellar tumours. We aimed to elucidate the impact of focal lesions of the cerebellum on WM integrity across the entire brain, and to investigate whether WM deficits were associated with behavioural impairment in three different motor tasks. Lesion symptom mapping analysis suggested that lesions in critical cerebellar regions were related to deficits in savings during an eyeblink conditioning task, as well as to deficits in motor action timing. Diffusion imaging analysis of cerebellar WM indicated that better behavioural performance was associated with higher fractional anisotropy (FA) in the superior cerebellar peduncle, cerebellum's main outflow path. Moreover, voxel‐wise analysis revealed a global pattern of WM deficits in patients within many cerebral WM tracts critical for motor and non‐motor function. Finally, we observed a positive correlation between FA and savings within cerebello‐thalamo‐cortical pathways in patients but not in controls, showing that saving effects partly depend on extracerebellar areas, and may be recruited for compensation. These results confirm that the cerebellum has extended connections with many cerebral areas involved in motor/cognitive functions, and the observed WM changes likely contribute to long‐term clinical deficits of posterior fossa tumour survivors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Alexandre Gomes
- Department of Neuropsychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Katharina M Steiner
- Department of Neurology, Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Nicolas Ludolph
- Cognitive Neurology, Section Computational Sensomotorics, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Center for Integrative Neuroscience (HIH), Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Tamas Spisak
- Predictive Neuroimaging Lab, Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine - Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, Essen University Hospital, Essen, Germany
| | - Thomas M Ernst
- Department of Neurology, Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Oliver Mueller
- Department of Neurosurgery, Klinikum Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany.,Department of Neurosurgery, Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Sophia L Göricke
- Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Franziska Labrenz
- Department of Neurology, Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Winfried Ilg
- Cognitive Neurology, Section Computational Sensomotorics, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Center for Integrative Neuroscience (HIH), Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Nikolai Axmacher
- Department of Neuropsychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Dagmar Timmann
- Department of Neurology, Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
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12
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Kruseova J, Kovacova AS, Zapotocky M, Sumerauer D, Pernikova I, Starkova D, Misove A, Zichova A, Capek V, Langer T, am Zehnhoff-Dinnesen A, Eckschlager T, Kyncl M. Older age is a protective factor for academic achievements irrespective of treatment modalities for posterior fossa brain tumours in children. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0243998. [PMID: 33326475 PMCID: PMC7743944 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The treatment of children with posterior fossa brain tumours (PFBT) impacts their long term functional and imaging outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate academic achievement correlated with long-term sequelae after different PFBT treatment modalities. The study cohort consisted of 110 survivors (median age at diagnosis 10.1 years and median time of follow up 13.2 years) who completed hearing questionnaires, neurological assessment and MRI of the brain ≥5 years after the end of treatment. There were three treatment groups. A cisplatin group which underwent cisplatin chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery (medulloblastoma N = 40), a radiotherapy group which underwent radiotherapy and surgery (astrocytoma/ependymoma N = 30), and a surgery group (astrocytoma N = 40). Academic achievement was correlated to the age at diagnosis, ototoxicity, Karnofsky score (KS), and MRI findings (Fazekas Score (FS)- treatment related parenchymal changes). For a modelled age at diagnosis of five years, the cisplatin group had lower academic achievements compared to the radiotherapy (p = 0.028) and surgery (p = 0.014) groups. Academic achievements evaluated at a modelled age of 10 years at diagnosis did not significantly differ among the treatment groups. The cisplatin group exhibited a higher occurrence of ototoxicity than the radiotherapy (p<0.019) and surgery groups (p<0.001); however, there was no correlation between ototoxicity and academic achievements (p = 0.722) in older age at diagnosis. The radiotherapy group exhibited lower KS than the surgery group (p<0.001). KS significantly influenced academic achievements in all groups (p<0.000). The cisplatin group exhibited higher FS than the surgery group (p<0.001) while FS did not correlate with academic achievement (p = 0.399). Older age is a protective factor for academic achievements irrespective of a treatment modality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jarmila Kruseova
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Charles University, 2 Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic
- * E-mail:
| | - Anna Sarah Kovacova
- Department of Radiology, Charles University, 2 Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Zapotocky
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Charles University, 2 Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - David Sumerauer
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Charles University, 2 Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Ivana Pernikova
- Department of Paediatric Neurology, Charles University, 2 Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Darja Starkova
- Department of Radiology, Charles University, 2 Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Adela Misove
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Charles University, 2 Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Andrea Zichova
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Charles University, 2 Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Vaclav Capek
- Bioinformatics Centre, Charles University, 2 Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Thorsten Langer
- Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, University Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Lübeck, Germany
| | | | - Tomas Eckschlager
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Charles University, 2 Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Kyncl
- Department of Radiology, Charles University, 2 Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic
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13
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Eye Movements and White Matter are Associated with Emotional Control in Children Treated for Brain Tumors. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2020; 26:978-992. [PMID: 32456730 DOI: 10.1017/s1355617720000491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Children treated for brain tumors often experience social and emotional difficulties, including challenges with emotion regulation; our goal was to investigate the attention-related component processes of emotion regulation, using a novel eye-tracking measure, and to evaluate its relations with emotional functioning and white matter (WM) organization. METHOD Fifty-four children participated in this study; 36 children treated for posterior fossa tumors, and 18 typically developing children. Participants completed two versions of an emotion regulation eye-tracking task, designed to differentiate between implicit (i.e., automatic) and explicit (i.e., voluntary) subprocesses. The Emotional Control scale from the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function was used to evaluate emotional control in daily life, and WM organization was assessed with diffusion tensor imaging. RESULTS We found that emotional faces captured attention across all groups (F(1,51) = 32.18, p < .001, η2p = .39). However, unlike typically developing children, patients were unable to override the attentional capture of emotional faces when instructed to (emotional face-by-group interaction: F(2,51) = 5.58, p = .006, η2p = .18). Across all children, our eye-tracking measure of emotion regulation was modestly associated with the parent-report emotional control score (r = .29, p = .045), and in patients it was associated with WM microstructure in the body and splenium of the corpus callosum (all t > 3.03, all p < .05). CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that an attention-related component process of emotion regulation is disrupted in children treated for brain tumors, and that it may relate to their emotional difficulties and WM organization. This work provides a foundation for future theoretical and mechanistic investigations of emotional difficulties in brain tumor survivors.
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14
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Dellatolas G, Câmara-Costa H. The role of cerebellum in the child neuropsychological functioning. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2020; 173:265-304. [PMID: 32958180 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-64150-2.00023-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
This chapter proposes a review of neuropsychologic and behavior findings in pediatric pathologies of the cerebellum, including cerebellar malformations, pediatric ataxias, cerebellar tumors, and other acquired cerebellar injuries during childhood. The chapter also contains reviews of the cerebellar mutism/posterior fossa syndrome, reported cognitive associations with the development of the cerebellum in typically developing children and subjects born preterm, and the role of the cerebellum in neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorders and developmental dyslexia. Cognitive findings in pediatric cerebellar disorders are considered in the context of known cerebellocerebral connections, internal cellular organization of the cerebellum, the idea of a universal cerebellar transform and computational internal models, and the role of the cerebellum in specific cognitive and motor functions, such as working memory, language, timing, or control of eye movements. The chapter closes with a discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of the cognitive affective syndrome as it has been described in children and some conclusions and perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georges Dellatolas
- GRC 24, Handicap Moteur et Cognitif et Réadaptation, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France.
| | - Hugo Câmara-Costa
- GRC 24, Handicap Moteur et Cognitif et Réadaptation, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France; Centre d'Etudes en Santé des Populations, INSERM U1018, Paris, France
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15
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Peterson RK, Tabori U, Bouffet E, Laughlin S, Liu F, Scantlebury N, Mabbott D. Predictors of neuropsychological late effects and white matter correlates in children treated for a brain tumor without radiation therapy. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2019; 66:e27924. [PMID: 31309694 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.27924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2019] [Revised: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Little is known about cognition and predictors of neuropsychological outcomes in pediatric low-grade glioma (PLGG) survivors treated without radiation therapy. This research expands upon our previous work by further identifying the cognitive profile of PLGG patients treated without radiation therapy, investigating the specific medical and demographic variables that predict functioning, and examining white matter structure and its relationship to neuropsychological performance. PROCEDURE Nineteen PLGG patients (11-19 years) were administered the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children/Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, and subtests from the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Cognition (visual matching, rapid picture naming, and pair cancellation) and Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (pattern recognition memory, delayed matching to sample, intra-extra dimensional set shift, motor screening task, rapid visual information processing, and spatial span). RESULTS The sample had normative weaknesses in verbal working memory, brief attention/vigilance, psychomotor speeded output, visual perception and matching, overall cognition, working memory, and processing speed. Increased surgeries or subtotal resections, hydrocephalus, shunting procedures, chemotherapy, NF1, and supratentorial location were predictive of cognitive deficits. Broad white matter involvement of the frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital lobes as well as the cerebellum, as inferred from diffusion tensor imaging indices of decreased fiber orientation and increased water diffusion, was related to many cognitive difficulties. CONCLUSIONS This study comprehensively examines cognitive functioning in PLGG patients treated without radiation therapy, predictors of cognition, and its relation to white matter structure. Our findings indicate that medical and demographic variables other than radiation therapy can lead to cognitive late effects with diffuse white matter involvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel K Peterson
- Department of Psychology, Neurosciences and Mental Health Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Uri Tabori
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Eric Bouffet
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Suzanne Laughlin
- Centre for Brain and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Fang Liu
- Centre for Brain and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nadia Scantlebury
- Centre for Brain and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Donald Mabbott
- Department of Psychology, Neurosciences and Mental Health Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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16
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Aleksonis HA, Wier R, Pearson MM, Cannistraci CJ, Anderson AW, Kuttesch JF, Compas BE, Hoskinson KR. Associations among diffusion tensor imaging and neurocognitive function in survivors of pediatric brain tumor: A pilot study. APPLIED NEUROPSYCHOLOGY-CHILD 2019; 10:111-122. [PMID: 31146596 DOI: 10.1080/21622965.2019.1613993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine associations among neurocognitive outcomes and white matter integrity in the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (IFOF), uncinate fasciculus (UF), and genu of the corpus callosum (gCC) in survivors of pediatric brain tumor and healthy controls (HCs). Eleven survivors (ages 8-16; >2 years post-treatment) and 14 HCs underwent MRI; diffusion tensor imaging tractography (DSI Studio) was used to assess white matter integrity. Participants completed neuropsychological assessment of overall cognitive ability, executive function, processing speed, divided attention, and memory. As previously reported, survivors performed significantly worse than HCs on measures of overall IQ, working memory, processing speed, and executive function (ps < .01), but not on measures of long-delay memory. Mean fractional anisotropy was significantly lower in survivors than HC in the right IFOF, left UF, and gCC (ps < .05). Correlations with the total sample revealed a number of significant positive associations among white matter tracts and scores on neurocognitive measures. Survivors show deficits on measures of cognitive function and decreased white matter integrity compared to HCs. Results revealed a more general pattern of associations among white matter pathways and neurocognitive outcomes than initially hypothesized. It is possible that survivors with diffuse pathology from treatment effects (i.e., hydrocephalus or posterior fossa syndrome) show more general decreases in cognitive functioning and white matter integrity. Additional research with a larger and more diverse group of survivors is needed to better understand white matter integrity and neurocognitive outcome associations in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly A Aleksonis
- Center for Biobehavioral Health, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Ryan Wier
- Center for Biobehavioral Health, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Matthew M Pearson
- Institute for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Sacred Heart Medical Group, Pensacola, Florida, USA
| | - Christopher J Cannistraci
- Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Adam W Anderson
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - John F Kuttesch
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Bruce E Compas
- Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Kristen R Hoskinson
- Center for Biobehavioral Health, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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17
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Wilke C, Grosshans D, Duman J, Brown P, Li J. Radiation-induced cognitive toxicity: pathophysiology and interventions to reduce toxicity in adults. Neuro Oncol 2019; 20:597-607. [PMID: 29045710 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/nox195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Radiotherapy is ubiquitous in the treatment of patients with both primary brain tumors as well as disease which is metastatic to the brain. This therapy is not without cost, however, as cognitive decline is frequently associated with cranial radiation, particularly with whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT). The precise mechanisms responsible for radiation-induced morbidity remain incompletely understood and continue to be an active area of ongoing research. In this article, we review the hypothetical means by which cranial radiation induces cognitive decline as well as potential therapeutic approaches to prevent, minimize, or reverse treatment-induced cognitive deterioration. We additionally review advances in imaging modalities that can potentially be used to identify site-specific radiation-induced anatomic or functional changes in the brain and their correlation with clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Wilke
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas (C.W., D.G., J.L.); Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas (J.D.); Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota (P.B.)
| | - David Grosshans
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas (C.W., D.G., J.L.); Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas (J.D.); Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota (P.B.)
| | - Joseph Duman
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas (C.W., D.G., J.L.); Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas (J.D.); Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota (P.B.)
| | - Paul Brown
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas (C.W., D.G., J.L.); Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas (J.D.); Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota (P.B.)
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas (C.W., D.G., J.L.); Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas (J.D.); Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota (P.B.)
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18
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Otth M, Scheinemann K. Surveillance imaging for high-grade childhood brain tumors: What to do 10 years after completion of treatment? Pediatr Blood Cancer 2018; 65:e27311. [PMID: 30009501 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.27311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2018] [Revised: 06/05/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Brain tumors are the second most common childhood cancer. Treatment protocols for high-grade pediatric brain tumors recommend regular follow-up imaging for up to 10 years. We review maximal time to recurrence and minimal time to radiologically detectable long-term sequelae such as secondary malignancies, vascular complications, and white matter disease. No tumors recurred after the 10-year point, but radiological long-term sequelae grew more common as the treatment completion date receded. We do not recommend regular imaging more than 10 years after treatment has ended, unless there are clinical symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Otth
- Swiss Childhood Cancer Registry, Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Katrin Scheinemann
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, University Children's Hospital Beider Basel (UKBB), University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Division of Hematology/Oncology, McMaster Children's Hospital, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.,Division of Hematology/Oncology, Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Kantonsspital Aarau, Aarau, Switzerland
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19
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Partanen M, Bouffet E, Laughlin S, Strother D, Hukin J, Skocic J, Szulc-Lerch K, Mabbott DJ. Early changes in white matter predict intellectual outcome in children treated for posterior fossa tumors. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2018; 20:697-704. [PMID: 30219617 PMCID: PMC6139996 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2018.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2018] [Revised: 08/23/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Prospective and longitudinal neuroimaging studies of posterior fossa tumors are scarce. Here we evaluate the early changes in white matter and intellectual outcome up to 3 years after diagnosis. Patients and methods Twenty-two children with posterior fossa tumors and 24 similarly-aged healthy children participated. Patients included: (a) 12 individuals who received surgery, cranial-spinal radiation (CSR), and focal radiation to the tumor bed (CSR group) and (b) 10 individuals who received local therapy, either surgery only or surgery and focal radiation to the tumor bed (Local group). Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and intelligence measures were obtained an average of 3 months after diagnosis and then at 12, 24, and 36 months later. DTI tractography and voxel-wise approaches were employed. The Neurological Predictor Scale was used to summarize the type and amount of treatment for PF tumor patients. Linear mixed modelling was used to evaluate group differences at baseline and changes over time in DTI metrics for both the specific white matter tracts and voxel-wise, as well as for intelligence measures. Results Based on tractography, patients treated with CSR had significantly higher Axial and Mean diffusivity in the cortical-spinal tracts (CST) 3 month after diagnosis – particularly on the right side, p < .003, compared to healthy children. Mean diffusivity in right CST decreased over time in this group of patients, p = .001. No differences compared to controls were evident in specific tracts for the Local group, p > .10. Voxel-wise analyses revealed multiple areas of white matter compromise in both patients groups. Notably, both patient groups had lower scores on intelligence measures compared to the Control group: The CSR group displayed lower performance 3 months following diagnosis, ps < 0.001, and their performance remained stable over time ps > 0.10, whereas the Local group displayed no differences at 3 months, ps> 0.10, but their performance declined over time, ps < 0.01. At baseline, higher MD in right CST predicted lower Perceptual Reasoning scores across all participants, p = .001. Furthermore, lower FA in left IFOF at baseline predicted decline in Processing Speed over time, p = .001. In patients, more aggressive treatment protocols and presence of mutism were related to lower performance on intelligence measures at baseline, ps < 0.04. Conclusions Children treated with CSR displayed diffuse white matter compromise and poor intellectual outcome shortly after radiation treatment. There was evidence of subsequent growth of white matter structure, but stable intellectual insult. Conversely, in children treated with either surgery only or surgery and focal radiation to the tumor bed we observed less compromise of white matter early following treatment and no intellectual insult compared to healthy children. However, declines in intellectual function were evident for these children, though their performance remained within the average normative range. Overall, results suggest that early intervention is necessary to circumvent these deficits. There are early deficits to intellect and white matter shortly after treatment Early deficits were observed only after cranial-spinal radiation Intellectual deficits are generally stable over time White matter indices, mutism, and treatment predicted intellectual outcome
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eric Bouffet
- The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | - Juliette Hukin
- Children's and Women's Health Centre of BC Branch, Canada
| | - Jovanka Skocic
- The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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White matter network topology relates to cognitive flexibility and cumulative neurological risk in adult survivors of pediatric brain tumors. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2018; 20:485-497. [PMID: 30148064 PMCID: PMC6105768 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2018.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2018] [Revised: 07/13/2018] [Accepted: 08/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Adult survivors of pediatric brain tumors exhibit deficits in executive functioning. Given that brain tumors and medical treatments for brain tumors result in disruptions to white matter, a network analysis was used to explore the topological properties of white matter networks. This study used diffusion tensor imaging and deterministic tractography in 38 adult survivors of pediatric brain tumors (mean age in years = 23.11 (SD = 4.96), 54% female, mean years post diagnosis = 14.09 (SD = 6.19)) and 38 healthy peers matched by age, gender, handedness, and socioeconomic status. Nodes were defined using the Automated Anatomical Labeling (AAL) parcellation scheme, and edges were defined as the mean fractional anisotropy of streamlines that connected each node pair. Global efficiency and average clustering coefficient were reduced in survivors compared to healthy peers with preferential impact to hub regions. Global efficiency mediated differences in cognitive flexibility between survivors and healthy peers, as well as the relationship between cumulative neurological risk and cognitive flexibility. These results suggest that adult survivors of pediatric brain tumors, on average one and a half decades post brain tumor diagnosis and treatment, exhibit altered white matter topology in the form of suboptimal integration and segregation of large scale networks, and that disrupted topology may underlie executive functioning impairments. Network based studies provided important topographic insights on network organization in long-term survivors of pediatric brain tumor. Long term brain tumor survivorship is associated with altered white matter networks. Hub regions were preferentially impacted in survivors. Network properties explain cognitive flexibility differences between survivors and peers.
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Glass JO, Ogg RJ, Hyun JW, Harreld JH, Schreiber JE, Palmer SL, Li Y, Gajjar AJ, Reddick WE. Disrupted development and integrity of frontal white matter in patients treated for pediatric medulloblastoma. Neuro Oncol 2018; 19:1408-1418. [PMID: 28541578 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/nox062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Treatment of pediatric medulloblastoma is associated with known neurocognitive deficits that we hypothesize are caused by microstructural damage to frontal white matter (WM). Methods Longitudinal MRI examinations were collected from baseline (after surgery but before therapy) to 36 months in 146 patients and at 3 time points in 72 controls. Regional analyses of frontal WM volume and diffusion tensor imaging metrics were performed and verified with tract-based spatial statistics. Age-adjusted, linear mixed-effects models were used to compare patient and control images and to associate imaging changes with Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Cognitive Abilities. Results At baseline, WM volumes in patients were similar to those in controls; fractional anisotropy (FA) was lower bilaterally (P < 0.001) and was associated with decreased Processing Speed (P = 0.014) and Broad Attention (P = 0.025) performance at 36 months. During follow-up, WM volumes increased in controls but decreased in patients (P < 0.001) bilaterally. Smaller WM volumes in patients at 36 months were associated with concurrent decreased Working Memory (P = 0.026) performance. Conclusions Lower FA in patients with pediatric medulloblastoma compared with age-similar controls indicated that patients suffer substantial acute microstructural damage to supratentorial frontal WM following surgery but before radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Additionally, this damage to the frontal WM was associated with decreased cognitive performance in executive function 36 months later. This early damage also likely contributed to posttherapeutic failure of age-appropriate WM development and to the known association between decreased WM volumes and decreased cognitive performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- John O Glass
- Departments of Diagnostic Imaging, Biostatistics, Psychology, and Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Robert J Ogg
- Departments of Diagnostic Imaging, Biostatistics, Psychology, and Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Jung W Hyun
- Departments of Diagnostic Imaging, Biostatistics, Psychology, and Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Julie H Harreld
- Departments of Diagnostic Imaging, Biostatistics, Psychology, and Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Jane E Schreiber
- Departments of Diagnostic Imaging, Biostatistics, Psychology, and Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Shawna L Palmer
- Departments of Diagnostic Imaging, Biostatistics, Psychology, and Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Yimei Li
- Departments of Diagnostic Imaging, Biostatistics, Psychology, and Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Amar J Gajjar
- Departments of Diagnostic Imaging, Biostatistics, Psychology, and Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Wilburn E Reddick
- Departments of Diagnostic Imaging, Biostatistics, Psychology, and Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
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22
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Krull KR, Hardy KK, Kahalley LS, Schuitema I, Kesler SR. Neurocognitive Outcomes and Interventions in Long-Term Survivors of Childhood Cancer. J Clin Oncol 2018; 36:2181-2189. [PMID: 29874137 DOI: 10.1200/jco.2017.76.4696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 161] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent research has demonstrated that survivors of childhood cancer are at risk for a myriad of late effects that affect physical and mental quality of life. We discuss the patterns and prevalence of neurocognitive problems commonly experienced by survivors of CNS tumors and acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the two most commonly researched cancer diagnoses. Research documenting the direct effects of tumor location and treatment type and intensity is presented, and patient characteristics that moderate outcomes (eg, age at diagnosis and sex) are discussed. Potential biologic mechanisms of neurotoxic treatment exposures, such as cranial irradiation and intrathecal and high-dose antimetabolite chemotherapy, are reviewed. Genetic, brain imaging, and neurochemical biomarkers of neurocognitive impairment are discussed. Long-term survivors of childhood cancer are also at risk for physical morbidity (eg, cardiac, pulmonary, endocrine) and problems with health behaviors (eg, sleep); research is reviewed that demonstrates these health problems contribute to neurocognitive impairment in survivors with or without exposure to neurotoxic therapies. We conclude this review with a discussion of literature supporting specific interventions that may be beneficial in the treatment of survivors who already experience neurocognitive impairment, as well as in the prevention of impairment manifestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin R Krull
- Kevin R. Krull, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN; Kristina K. Hardy, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC; Lisa S. Kahalley, Baylor College of Medicine; Shelli R. Kesler, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX; and Ilse Schuitema, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Kristina K Hardy
- Kevin R. Krull, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN; Kristina K. Hardy, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC; Lisa S. Kahalley, Baylor College of Medicine; Shelli R. Kesler, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX; and Ilse Schuitema, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Lisa S Kahalley
- Kevin R. Krull, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN; Kristina K. Hardy, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC; Lisa S. Kahalley, Baylor College of Medicine; Shelli R. Kesler, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX; and Ilse Schuitema, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Ilse Schuitema
- Kevin R. Krull, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN; Kristina K. Hardy, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC; Lisa S. Kahalley, Baylor College of Medicine; Shelli R. Kesler, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX; and Ilse Schuitema, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Shelli R Kesler
- Kevin R. Krull, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN; Kristina K. Hardy, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC; Lisa S. Kahalley, Baylor College of Medicine; Shelli R. Kesler, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX; and Ilse Schuitema, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
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23
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Alias H, Lau SCD, Schuitema I, de Sonneville LMJ. Neuropsychological Consequences for Survivors of Childhood Brain Tumor in Malaysia. Front Psychol 2018; 9:703. [PMID: 29896137 PMCID: PMC5986920 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate neuropsychological consequences in survivors of childhood brain tumor. Method: A case-control study was conducted over a period of 4 months in a tertiary referral center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Fourteen survivors of childhood brain tumor aged 7–18 years, who were off-treatment for at least 1 year and were in remission, and 31 unrelated healthy controls were recruited. The median age at diagnosis was 8.20 years (range: 0.92–12.96 years). The diagnoses of brain tumors were medulloblastoma, germ cell tumor, pineocytoma, pilocystic astrocytoma, suprasellar germinoma, and ependymoma. Eleven survivors received central nervous system irradiation. Seven tasks were selected from the Amsterdam Neuropsychological Tasks program to evaluate alertness (processing speed), and major aspects of executive functioning, such as working memory capacity, inhibition, cognitive flexibility, and sustained attention. Speed, stability and accuracy of responses were the main outcome measures. Results: Survivors of childhood brain tumor showed statistically significant poorer performance on all tasks compared to healthy controls. Both processing speed and accuracy were impaired in the survivors, in particular under more complex task conditions. The survivors demonstrated deficits in alertness, sustained attention, working memory capacity, executive visuomotor control, and cognitive flexibility. Longer duration off treatment appeared to be correlated with poorer alertness, memory capacity, and inhibition. Conclusion: Survivors of childhood brain tumor in our center showed impaired neuropsychological functioning. Development of less toxic treatment protocols is important to prevent late effects of cognitive deficits in survivors of childhood brain tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamidah Alias
- Department of Pediatrics, UKM Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, The National University of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Sie Chong D Lau
- Department of Pediatrics, UKM Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, The National University of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Ilse Schuitema
- Department of Clinical Child and Adolescent Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Leo M J de Sonneville
- Department of Clinical Child and Adolescent Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
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Jacobson LA, Mahone EM, Yeates KO, Ris MD. Processing speed in children treated for brain tumors: effects of radiation therapy and age. Child Neuropsychol 2018; 25:217-231. [PMID: 29621934 DOI: 10.1080/09297049.2018.1456517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
The current study examined processing speed in children two years post-treatment for brain tumors (BT) with radiation therapy (RT) compared to those treated with without RT. Participants included 59 children (4-17 years) with BT assessed as part of the Brain Radiation Investigative Study Consortium (BRISC). Processing speed was assessed at two time points: Time1 (3-9 months post-surgery) for 26 children who received whole brain or focal RT (RT group) and 33 treated without RT (no-RT group), and again two years later (Time2) for 42 participants (17 RT, 25 no-RT). Linear mixed effects (LME) regression analyses examined differences in cognitive and motor speed between groups and across visits, with age at Time1 (age1) treated as a moderating variable, and sex and primary tumor size as covariates. No effects for treatment group or visit were found for motor speed (Pegboard) or mean reaction time (Attention Network Task). On the Wechsler Processing Speed Index (PSI), the no-RT group performed better than the RT group, with a group-by-age interaction such that across visits, the difference between the no-RT and RT groups was larger among children who were older at initial treatment (≥10 years) than among those who were younger (<10 years). Cumulative brain injury earlier in life (tumor, surgery, plus RT) may result in greater impact on more complex tasks of cognitive efficiency. Children receiving RT showed reduced processing speed over time, with a larger group difference among those who were over 10 years at treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa A Jacobson
- a Department of Neuropsychology , Kennedy Krieger Institute , Baltimore , MD , USA.,b Department of Neuropsychology , Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore , MD , USA
| | - E Mark Mahone
- a Department of Neuropsychology , Kennedy Krieger Institute , Baltimore , MD , USA.,b Department of Neuropsychology , Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore , MD , USA
| | - Keith O Yeates
- c Department of Psychology, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, and Hotchkiss Brain Institute , University of Calgary , Calgary , Canada
| | - M Douglas Ris
- d Department of Pediatrics, Section of Psychology , Texas Children's Hospital , Houston , TX , USA.,e Department of Pediatrics, Section of Psychology , Baylor College of Medicine , Houston , TX , USA
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25
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Makola M, Douglas Ris M, Mahone EM, Yeates KO, Cecil KM. Long-term effects of radiation therapy on white matter of the corpus callosum: a diffusion tensor imaging study in children. Pediatr Radiol 2017; 47:1809-1816. [PMID: 28844078 PMCID: PMC5693613 DOI: 10.1007/s00247-017-3955-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2017] [Revised: 06/20/2017] [Accepted: 07/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite improving survival rates, children are at risk for long-term cognitive and behavioral difficulties following the diagnosis and treatment of a brain tumor. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy have all been shown to impact the developing brain, especially the white matter. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine the long-term effects of radiation therapy on white matter integrity, as measured by diffusion tensor imaging, in pediatric brain tumor patients 2 years after the end of radiation treatment, while controlling for surgical interventions. MATERIALS AND METHODS We evaluated diffusion tensor imaging performed at two time points: a baseline 3 to 12 months after surgery and a follow-up approximately 2 years later in pediatric brain tumor patients. A region of interest analysis was performed within three regions of the corpus callosum. Diffusion tensor metrics were determined for participants (n=22) who underwent surgical tumor resection and radiation therapy and demographically matched with participants (n=22) who received surgical tumor resection only. RESULTS Analysis revealed that 2 years after treatment, the radiation treated group exhibited significantly lower fractional anisotropy and significantly higher radial diffusivity within the body of the corpus callosum compared to the group that did not receive radiation. CONCLUSION The findings indicate that pediatric brain tumor patients treated with radiation therapy may be at greater risk of experiencing long-term damage to the body of the corpus callosum than those treated with surgery alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monwabisi Makola
- College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - M Douglas Ris
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - E Mark Mahone
- Department of Neuropsychology, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Keith Owen Yeates
- Department of Psychology, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Kim M Cecil
- Imaging Research Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, MLC 5033, 3333 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA.
- Department of Radiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
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26
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Othman R, Abdullah KG. Serial MRI Scan of Posterior Fossa Tumours Predict Patients at Risk of Developing Neurocognitive Impairment. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2017; 18:1729-1735. [PMID: 28748803 PMCID: PMC5648372 DOI: 10.22034/apjcp.2017.18.7.1729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Brain tumours are the most common solid tumours in children. More than 50% of these tumours develop in the posterior cranial fossa. Long term survivors of posterior fossa tumours (PFT) suffer from neurocognitive and memory issues. We hypothesized that serial MRI scanning of brain would show differences in hippocampal and ACC volume change in PFT patients treated with and without chemo-radiotherapy. Material and Methods: Twelve patients (8 females and 4 males) underwent 76 serial MR imaging examinations before and during treatment for posterior fossa tumours. Seven patients (4 medulloblastoma, 2 as ependymoma and 1 high grade glioma) were treated with maximum surgical resection followed by adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy (Group 1). The other five patients were diagnosed as pilocytic astrocytoma who were treated only with surgery (Group 2). Hippocampal volumes were obtained manually on high-resolution 3Tesla T1-weighted images and normalised to intracranial volume, while ACC thickness and volume were obtained automatically using FreeSurfer software. Results: After the treatment period, the change in normalised hippocampal volume from baseline was significantly lower in group 1 patients compared to group 2 (mean change -0.0001470 ± 8.981e-005; Mean ± SEM vs 0.0002765 ± 9.151e-005; Mean ± SEM, respectively, P=0.004). Displayed graphically, the negative hippocampal growth trajectory in group 1 gradually returned to a positive growth pattern. There were no statistically significant changes in ACC volume and thickness. Both groups had similar rates of pre-operative hydrocephalus. Conclusion: Compared to PFT patients treated with surgery alone, PFT patients treated with chemo-radiotherapy showed lower hippocampal volumes and altered hippocampal growth trajectory. Serial quantitative MRI measures of brain may provide a neuroanatomical substrate for assessing functional impact on normal brain function following treatment of posterior fossa tumours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramadhan Othman
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of medicine, University of Duhok, Duhok, Iraq.
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27
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Ailion AS, Hortman K, King TZ. Childhood Brain Tumors: a Systematic Review of the Structural Neuroimaging Literature. Neuropsychol Rev 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s11065-017-9352-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Brain Perfusion and Diffusion Abnormalities in Children Treated for Posterior Fossa Brain Tumors. J Pediatr 2017; 185:173-180.e3. [PMID: 28187964 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2017.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2016] [Revised: 11/28/2016] [Accepted: 01/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare cerebral perfusion and diffusion in survivors of childhood posterior fossa brain tumor with neurologically normal controls and correlate differences with cognitive dysfunction. STUDY DESIGN We analyzed retrospectively arterial spin-labeled cerebral blood flow (CBF) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in 21 patients with medulloblastoma (MB), 18 patients with pilocytic astrocytoma (PA), and 64 neurologically normal children. We generated ANCOVA models to evaluate treatment effects on the cerebral cortex, thalamus, caudate, putamen, globus pallidus, hippocampus, amygdala, nucleus accumbens, and cerebral white matter at time points an average of 5.7 years after original diagnosis. A retrospective review of patient charts identified 12 patients with neurocognitive data and in whom the relationship between IQ and magnetic resonance imaging variables was assessed for each brain structure. RESULTS Patients with MB (all treated with surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation) had significantly lower global CBF relative to controls (10%-23% lower, varying by anatomic region, all adjusted P?<?.05), whereas patients with PA (all treated with surgery alone) had normal CBF. ADC was decreased specifically in the hippocampus and amygdala of patients with MB and within the amygdala of patients with PA but otherwise remained normal after therapy. In the patients with tumor previously evaluated for IQ, regional ADC, but not CBF, correlated with IQ (R2?=?0.33-0.75). CONCLUSIONS The treatment for MB, but not PA, was associated with globally reduced CBF. Treatment in both tumor types was associated with diffusion abnormalities of the mesial temporal lobe structures. Despite significant perfusion abnormalities in patients with MB, diffusion, but not perfusion, correlated with cognitive outcomes.
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Prevention of radiotherapy-induced neurocognitive dysfunction in survivors of paediatric brain tumours: the potential role of modern imaging and radiotherapy techniques. Lancet Oncol 2017; 18:e91-e100. [DOI: 10.1016/s1470-2045(17)30030-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2016] [Revised: 10/24/2016] [Accepted: 10/26/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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30
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Oh ME, Driever PH, Khajuria RK, Rueckriegel SM, Koustenis E, Bruhn H, Thomale UW. DTI fiber tractography of cerebro-cerebellar pathways and clinical evaluation of ataxia in childhood posterior fossa tumor survivors. J Neurooncol 2016; 131:267-276. [DOI: 10.1007/s11060-016-2290-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2016] [Accepted: 10/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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de Blank PMK, Berman JI, Fisher MJ. Systemic Chemotherapy and White Matter Integrity in Tracts Associated with Cognition Among Children With Neurofibromatosis Type 1. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2016; 63:818-24. [PMID: 26757156 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.25896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2015] [Revised: 11/24/2015] [Accepted: 12/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Children with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) are predisposed to both brain tumors and cognitive deficits. While changes in white matter integrity after multimodal therapy are associated with cognitive dysfunction, the effect of isolated chemotherapy in NF1 is unknown. To determine whether chemotherapy is associated with white matter microstructural changes, we examined diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in NF1 subjects. PROCEDURE We reviewed DTI measures in tracts associated with cognition but free from tumor in 24 children with NF1-associated optic pathway gliomas unexposed to surgery or radiation. Twelve age-matched pairs were identified based on exposure to chemotherapy. A paired t-test was used to compare fractional anisotropy (FA) in tracts of interest between subjects with and without chemotherapy exposure. RESULTS On paired t-test, FA was significantly lower in the corpus callosum (P = 0.015) and cerebellothalamic (P = 0.038) tracts of subjects exposed to chemotherapy. There was no effect of age or time from chemotherapy on the difference between groups. In multivariable analysis, FA of these tracts was associated with chemotherapy exposure after adjusting for age, tumor location, and DTI acquisition. In longitudinal measures, FA decreased after chemotherapy exposure while FA increased with age in unexposed subjects. CONCLUSIONS Exposure to low-intensity chemotherapy in NF1 is associated with changes in white matter microstructure in tracts associated with cognition. Future studies should determine whether these changes are associated with cognitive decline. While chemotherapy may spare cognition relative to radiation and surgery, children with NF1 exposed to chemotherapy may benefit from early cognitive testing to allow for earlier intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Matthew Kennedy de Blank
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Jeffrey I Berman
- Department of Radiology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Michael Jay Fisher
- Division of Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Roddy E, Mueller S. Late Effects of Treatment of Pediatric Central Nervous System Tumors. J Child Neurol 2016; 31:237-54. [PMID: 26045296 DOI: 10.1177/0883073815587944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2014] [Accepted: 04/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Central nervous system tumors represent the most common solid malignancy in childhood. Improvement in treatment approaches have led to a significant increase in survival rates, with over 70% of children now surviving beyond 5 years. As more and more children with CNS tumors have longer survival times, it is important to be aware of the long-term morbidities caused not only by the tumor itself but also by tumor treatment. The most common side effects including poor neurocognition, endocrine dysfunction, neurological and vascular late effects, as well as secondary malignancies, are discussed within this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Roddy
- School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Sabine Mueller
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
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Koustenis E, Hernáiz Driever P, de Sonneville L, Rueckriegel SM. Executive function deficits in pediatric cerebellar tumor survivors. Eur J Paediatr Neurol 2016; 20:25-37. [PMID: 26631949 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpn.2015.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2014] [Revised: 10/30/2015] [Accepted: 11/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Besides motor function the cerebellum subserves frontal lobe functions. Thus, we investigated executive functions in pediatric posterior fossa tumor survivors. METHODS We tested information processing, aspects of attention, planning and intelligence in 42 pediatric posterior fossa tumor survivors (mean age 14.63 yrs, SD 5.03). Seventeen low-grade tumor patients (LGCT) were treated with surgery only and 25 high-grade tumors patients (HGCT) received postsurgical adjuvant treatment. We evaluated simple reaction time, executive functioning, i.e. visuospatial memory, inhibition, and mental flexibility using the Amsterdam Neuropsychological Tasks program, whereas forward thinking was assessed with the Tower of London-test. Intelligence was determined using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale. Ataxia was assessed with the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale. RESULTS About one third of each patient group showed forward thinking scores below one standard deviation of the norm. Impaired forward thinking correlated significantly with degree of ataxia (r = -0.39, p = 0.03) but not with fluid intelligence. Both patient groups exhibited executive function deficits in accuracy and reaction speed in more difficult tasks involving information speed and attention flexibility. Still, HGCT patients were significantly slower and committed more errors. Working memory was inferior in HGCT patients. CONCLUSION Pediatric cerebellar tumor survivors with different disease and treatment related brain damage exhibit similar patterns of impairment in executive functioning, concerning forward thinking, inhibition and mental flexibility. The deficits are larger in high-grade tumor patients. The pattern of function loss seen in both groups is most probably due to comparable lesions to cerebro-cerebellar circuits that are known to modulate critical executive functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Koustenis
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
| | - Pablo Hernáiz Driever
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany.
| | - Leo de Sonneville
- Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Department of Clinical Child and Adolescent Studies, Leiden University, The Netherlands
| | - Stefan M Rueckriegel
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany; Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Würzburg, Germany
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Tallen G, Resch A, Calaminus G, Wiener A, Leiss U, Pletschko T, Friedrich C, Langer T, Grabow D, Driever PH, Kortmann RD, Timmermann B, Pietsch T, Warmuth-Metz M, Bison B, Thomale UW, Krauss J, Mynarek M, von Hoff K, Ottensmeier H, Frühwald M, Kramm CM, Temming P, Müller HL, Witt O, Kordes U, Fleischhack G, Gnekow A, Rutkowski S. Strategies to improve the quality of survival for childhood brain tumour survivors. Eur J Paediatr Neurol 2015; 19:619-39. [PMID: 26278499 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpn.2015.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2015] [Accepted: 07/05/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tumours of the central nervous system (CNS) are the most frequent solid tumours and the second most frequent type of cancer in children and adolescents. Overall survival has continuously improved in Germany, since an increasing number of patients have been treated according to standardised, multicentre, multimodal treatment recommendations, trials of the German Paediatric Brain Tumour Consortium (HIT-Network) or the International Society of Paediatric Oncology-Europe (SIOP-E) during the last decades. Today, two out of three patients survive. At least 8000 long-term childhood brain tumour survivors (CBTS) are currently living in Germany. They face lifelong disease- and treatment-related late effects (LE) and associated socioeconomic problems more than many other childhood cancer survivors (CCS). METHOD We review the LE and resulting special needs of this particular group of CCS. RESULTS Despite their increasing relevance for future treatment optimisation, neither the diversity of chronic and cumulative LE nor their pertinent risk factors and subsequent impact on quality of survival have yet been comprehensively addressed for CBTS treated according to HIT- or SIOP-E-protocols. Evidence-based information to empower survivors and stakeholders, as well as medical expertise to manage their individual health care, psychosocial and educational/vocational needs must still be generated and established. CONCLUSION The establishment of a long-term research- and care network in Germany shall contribute to a European platform, that aims at optimising CBTSs' transition into adulthood as resilient individuals with high quality of survival including optimal levels of activity, participation and acceptance by society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gesche Tallen
- Department of Paediatric Oncology/Haematology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany; Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, 2888 Shaganappi Trail N.W., Calgary, Alberta T3B 6A8, Canada.
| | - Anika Resch
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Gabriele Calaminus
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, University Hospital Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, 48149 Münster, Germany.
| | - Andreas Wiener
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, University Hospital Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, 48149 Münster, Germany.
| | - Ulrike Leiss
- Medical University Vienna, Department of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Thomas Pletschko
- Medical University Vienna, Department of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Carsten Friedrich
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany; Division of Paediatric Oncology, Haematology and Haemostaseology, Department of Woman's and Children's Health, University Hospital Leipzig, Liebigstr. 20a, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Thorsten Langer
- Department of Paediatric Oncology/Haematology, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Lübeck, Germany.
| | - Desiree Grabow
- German Childhood Cancer Registry (GCCR), Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics (IMBEI), University Medical Center, University of Mainz, Gebäude 902, Obere Zahlbacher Straße 69, 55131 Mainz, Germany.
| | - Pablo Hernáiz Driever
- Department of Paediatric Oncology/Haematology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Rolf-Dieter Kortmann
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Leipzig, Stephanstr. 9a, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Beate Timmermann
- Particle Therapy Clinic at West German Proton Therapy Centre Essen, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147 Essen, Germany.
| | - Torsten Pietsch
- Institute of Neuropathology, University of Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25, 53105 Bonn, Germany.
| | - Monika Warmuth-Metz
- Dept. of Neuroradiology, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 11, 97080 Würzburg, Germany.
| | - Brigitte Bison
- Dept. of Neuroradiology, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 11, 97080 Würzburg, Germany.
| | - Ulrich-Wilhelm Thomale
- Department of Paediatric Neurosurgery, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Jürgen Krauss
- Department of Neurosurgery, Head Clinic, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 11, 97080 Würzburg, Germany.
| | - Martin Mynarek
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Katja von Hoff
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Holger Ottensmeier
- University Children's Hospital Würzburg, Dept. of Paed. Haematology, Oncology, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany.
| | - Michael Frühwald
- Department of Paediatric Oncology/Haematology, Klinikum Augsburg, Stenglinstr. 2, 86156 Augsburg, Germany.
| | - Christof M Kramm
- Division of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, University of Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37075 Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Petra Temming
- Paediatric Haematology/Oncology, Paediatrics III, University of Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147 Essen, Germany.
| | - Hermann L Müller
- Paediatric Oncology/Haematology, Klinikum Oldenburg, Medical Campus University Oldenburg, Rahel-Straus-Str. 10, 26133 Oldenburg, Germany.
| | - Olaf Witt
- German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ) and Department of Paediatric Oncology/Haematology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Uwe Kordes
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Gudrun Fleischhack
- Paediatric Haematology/Oncology, Paediatrics III, University of Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147 Essen, Germany.
| | - Astrid Gnekow
- Department of Paediatric Oncology/Haematology, Klinikum Augsburg, Stenglinstr. 2, 86156 Augsburg, Germany.
| | - Stefan Rutkowski
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.
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Nieman BJ, de Guzman AE, Gazdzinski LM, Lerch JP, Chakravarty MM, Pipitone J, Strother D, Fryer C, Bouffet E, Laughlin S, Laperriere N, Riggs L, Skocic J, Mabbott DJ. White and Gray Matter Abnormalities After Cranial Radiation in Children and Mice. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2015; 93:882-91. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2015.07.2293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2015] [Revised: 07/27/2015] [Accepted: 07/29/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Baron Nelson M, Compton P, Macey PM, Patel SK, Jacob E, O'Neil S, Ogren J, Finlay JL, Harper RM. Diffusion Tensor Imaging and Neurobehavioral Outcome in Children With Brain Tumors Treated With Chemotherapy. J Pediatr Oncol Nurs 2015. [PMID: 26219302 DOI: 10.1177/1043454215590104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Childhood brain tumor survivors (CBTS) often experience treatment-related neurocognitive deficits affecting quality of life (QOL), but systemic chemotherapy contributions to outcomes are unclear. Our objective was to relate brain tissue changes to neurocognitive and QOL effects after systemic myeloablative chemotherapy with autologous hematopoietic progenitor cell rescue in CBTS. PROCEDURE Regional brain volumes and diffusion tensor indices were correlated with neurocognitive, behavioral, and QOL measures, and compared between 8 CBTS (mean age 8.5 years, mean age at diagnosis 32 months), and 9 healthy controls (mean 9.3 years). RESULTS Overall QOL, school, and psychosocial functioning were significantly lower in patients (P < .05). Most patients scored within normative ranges on neurocognitive and behavioral assessment. Elevated mean diffusivity and decreased fractional anisotropy, indicating gray and white matter injury, respectively, appeared in memory and executive functioning areas. Low scores on Inhibition on the Neuropsychological Assessment-II were correlated with elevated mean diffusivity in prefrontal cortex. CONCLUSIONS Brain injury, decreased QOL, and to a lesser extent, executive functioning deficits appear in CBTS treated with myeloablative chemotherapy and autologous hematopoietic progenitor cell rescue. Early cognitive and psychological assessment and intervention are warranted in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Baron Nelson
- Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA UCLA School of Nursing, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Peggy Compton
- UCLA School of Nursing, Los Angeles, CA, USA Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Paul M Macey
- UCLA School of Nursing, Los Angeles, CA, USA David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Sharon O'Neil
- Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Ronald M Harper
- David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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King TZ, Wang L, Mao H. Disruption of White Matter Integrity in Adult Survivors of Childhood Brain Tumors: Correlates with Long-Term Intellectual Outcomes. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0131744. [PMID: 26147736 PMCID: PMC4492692 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0131744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2015] [Accepted: 06/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Although chemotherapy and radiation treatment have contributed to increased survivorship, treatment-induced brain injury has been a concern when examining long-term intellectual outcomes of survivors. Specifically, disruption of brain white matter integrity and its relationship to intellectual outcomes in adult survivors of childhood brain tumors needs to be better understood. Methods Fifty-four participants underwent diffusion tensor imaging in addition to structural MRI and an intelligence test (IQ). Voxel-wise group comparisons of fractional anisotropy calculated from DTI data were performed using Tract Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS) on 27 survivors (14 treated with radiation with and without chemotherapy and 13 treated without radiation treatment on average over 13 years since diagnosis) and 27 healthy comparison participants. Whole brain white matter fractional anisotropy (FA) differences were explored between each group. The relationships between IQ and FA in the regions where statistically lower FA values were found in survivors were examined, as well as the role of cumulative neurological factors. Results The group of survivors treated with radiation with and without chemotherapy had lower IQ relative to the group of survivors without radiation treatment and the healthy comparison group. TBSS identified white matter regions with significantly different mean fractional anisotropy between the three different groups. A lower level of white matter integrity was found in the radiation with or without chemotherapy treated group compared to the group without radiation treatment and also the healthy control group. The group without radiation treatment had a lower mean FA relative to healthy controls. The white matter disruption of the radiation with or without chemotherapy treated survivors was positively correlated with IQ and cumulative neurological factors. Conclusions Lower long-term intellectual outcomes of childhood brain tumor survivors are associated with lower white matter integrity. Radiation and adjunct chemotherapy treatment may play a role in greater white matter disruption. The relationships between white matter integrity and IQ, as well as cumulative neurological risk factors exist in young adult survivors of childhood brain tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tricia Z. King
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Liya Wang
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Hui Mao
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
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Rueckriegel SM, Bruhn H, Thomale UW, Hernáiz Driever P. Cerebral white matter fractional anisotropy and tract volume as measured by MR imaging are associated with impaired cognitive and motor function in pediatric posterior fossa tumor survivors. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2015; 62:1252-8. [PMID: 25850573 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.25485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2014] [Accepted: 02/02/2015] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Disease and therapy cause brain damage and subsequent functional loss in pediatric patients with posterior fossa tumors. Treatment-related toxicity factors are resection in patients with pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) and, additionally, cranio-spinal irradiation together with chemotherapy in patients with medulloblastoma (MB). We tested whether damage to white matter (WM) as revealed by diffusion tensor MR imaging (DTI) correlated with specific cognitive and motor impairments in survivors of pediatric posterior fossa tumors. PROCEDURES Eighteen MB (mean age ± SD, 15.2 ± 4.9 y) and 14 PA (12.6 ± 5.0 y) survivors were investigated with DTI on a 3-Tesla-MR system. We identified fractional anisotropy (FA) of WM, the volume ratio of WM to gray matter and cerebrospinal fluid (WM/GM + CSF), and volume of specific frontocerebellar tracts. Ataxia was assessed using the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS), while the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children determined full-scale intelligence quotients (FSIQ). Amsterdam Neuropsychological Tasks (ANT) was used to assess processing speed. Handwriting automation was analyzed using a digitizing graphic tablet. RESULTS The WM/GM + CSF ratio correlated significantly with cognitive measures (IQ, P = 0.002; ANT baseline speed, P = 0.04; ANT shifting attention, P = 0.004). FA of skeletonized tracts correlated significantly with FSIQ (P = 0.008), ANT baseline speed (P = 0.028) and ANT shifting attention (P = 0.045). Moreover, frontocerebellar tract volumes correlated with both the FSIQ (P = 0.011) and ICARS (P = 0.007). CONCLUSION DTI provides a method for quantification of WM damage by tumor and by therapy-associated effects in survivors of pediatric posterior fossa tumors. DTI-derived WM integrity may be a representative marker for cognitive and motor deterioration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan M Rueckriegel
- Pediatric Neurooncology Program, Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Charité-CVK, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Harald Bruhn
- Department of Radiology, Charité-CVK, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulrich W Thomale
- Section of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Charité- CVK, Berlin, Germany
| | - Pablo Hernáiz Driever
- Pediatric Neurooncology Program, Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Charité-CVK, Berlin, Germany
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de Guzman AE, Gazdzinski LM, Alsop RJ, Stewart JM, Jaffray DA, Wong CS, Nieman BJ. Treatment Age, Dose and Sex Determine Neuroanatomical Outcome in Irradiated Juvenile Mice. Radiat Res 2015; 183:541-9. [DOI: 10.1667/rr13854.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Lisa M. Gazdzinski
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Richard J. Alsop
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - James M. Stewart
- Radiation Medicine Program and Techna Institute, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - David A. Jaffray
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - C. Shun Wong
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Brian J. Nieman
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Morphological brain lesions of pediatric cerebellar tumor survivors correlate with inferior neurocognitive function but do not affect health-related quality of life. Childs Nerv Syst 2015; 31:569-80. [PMID: 25686892 DOI: 10.1007/s00381-015-2635-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2014] [Accepted: 02/03/2015] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE We aimed to determine whether extent of morphological brain injury in pediatric cerebellar tumor survivors correlates with neurocognitive function and health-related quality of life (HrQoL). METHODS Seventeen cerebellar pilocytic astrocytoma (cPA) and 17 medulloblastoma (MB) survivors were examined for HrQoL, intelligence using the German version of the WISC-III, attention, working memory, and visual motor coordination. MRI scans were analyzed for extent of posterior fossa brain tissue loss. RESULTS We found significant correlations between amount and extent morphological brain lesions of pediatric cerebellar tumor survivors and several cognitive impairments including intelligence and attention in both patient groups. These were in total more pronounced in MB patients when compared to cPA patients. Still, function loss and brain lesions detected on conventional MRI did not influence HrQoL. CONCLUSIONS These findings support the notion that long-term neurocognitive deficits of pediatric posterior fossa tumor survivors significantly correlate with brain tissue damage. The cerebellum plays a role in regulating higher-order functions. On the contrary, the extent brain injury is not detected by HrQoL assessment.
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Moberget T, Andersson S, Lundar T, Due-Tønnessen B, Heldal A, Endestad T, Westlye L. Long-term supratentorial brain structure and cognitive function following cerebellar tumour resections in childhood. Neuropsychologia 2015; 69:218-31. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2015.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2014] [Revised: 01/21/2015] [Accepted: 02/05/2015] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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Liu F, Scantlebury N, Tabori U, Bouffet E, Laughlin S, Strother D, McConnell D, Hukin J, Fryer C, Brière ME, Montour-Proulx I, Keene D, Wang F, Mabbott DJ. White matter compromise predicts poor intellectual outcome in survivors of pediatric low-grade glioma. Neuro Oncol 2014; 17:604-13. [PMID: 25395463 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/nou306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND While the impact of cranial radiation on white matter following treatment for pediatric brain tumor has been the focus of many recent studies, the effect of treatment in the absence of radiation has received little attention. The relations between white matter and cognitive outcome have not been explored in patients who have undergone radiation-free treatment. As most patients treated without cranial radiation survive long after their diagnosis, it is critical to identify factors that may impact structural and neurocognitive outcomes. METHODS Using diffusion tensor imaging, we examined white matter structure in 32 patients with pediatric low-grade glioma (PLGG) (19 with subtentorial location and 13 with supratentorial location) and 32 healthy participants. Indices of intellectual functioning were also evaluated. Radiation was not used to treat this cohort, aged 8-19 years. RESULTS We detected evidence of deficits in IQ and compromised supra- and subtentorial white matter in patients relative to healthy children (P < .05). Compromise of supratentorial white matter mediated the impact of treatment for PLGG on IQ. Greater white matter compromise was observed in patients who presented without multiple symptoms, were treated with biopsy/no surgery, had positive neurofibromatosis 1 status, were younger age at diagnosis, and whose parents had lower levels of education (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS Our findings provide evidence of increased risk of intellectual and white matter compromise in patients treated for PLGG without radiation. We identify a neural origin of cognitive deficit useful for predicting outcome and mitigating long-term adverse effects in pediatric brain tumor patients treated without cranial radiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Liu
- Neurosciences & Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (F.L., N.S., F.W., D.J.M.); Division of Haematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (U.T., E.B.); Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (U.T., E.B.); Diagnostic Imaging, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.L.); Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.L.); Departments of Oncology and Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (D.S.); Independent practice, Montréal area, Québec, Canada (M.-E.B.); Department of Psychology, Division of Oncology, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (D.M.); Divisions of Neurology and Oncology, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (J.H.); Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (J.H., C.F.); Division of Hematology and Oncology, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (C.F.); Division of Ambulatory Care/Oncology, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (I.M.-P., D.K.); Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (D.K.); Department of Psychology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (D.J.M.); Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (D.J.M.)
| | - Nadia Scantlebury
- Neurosciences & Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (F.L., N.S., F.W., D.J.M.); Division of Haematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (U.T., E.B.); Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (U.T., E.B.); Diagnostic Imaging, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.L.); Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.L.); Departments of Oncology and Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (D.S.); Independent practice, Montréal area, Québec, Canada (M.-E.B.); Department of Psychology, Division of Oncology, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (D.M.); Divisions of Neurology and Oncology, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (J.H.); Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (J.H., C.F.); Division of Hematology and Oncology, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (C.F.); Division of Ambulatory Care/Oncology, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (I.M.-P., D.K.); Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (D.K.); Department of Psychology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (D.J.M.); Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (D.J.M.)
| | - Uri Tabori
- Neurosciences & Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (F.L., N.S., F.W., D.J.M.); Division of Haematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (U.T., E.B.); Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (U.T., E.B.); Diagnostic Imaging, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.L.); Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.L.); Departments of Oncology and Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (D.S.); Independent practice, Montréal area, Québec, Canada (M.-E.B.); Department of Psychology, Division of Oncology, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (D.M.); Divisions of Neurology and Oncology, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (J.H.); Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (J.H., C.F.); Division of Hematology and Oncology, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (C.F.); Division of Ambulatory Care/Oncology, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (I.M.-P., D.K.); Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (D.K.); Department of Psychology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (D.J.M.); Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (D.J.M.)
| | - Eric Bouffet
- Neurosciences & Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (F.L., N.S., F.W., D.J.M.); Division of Haematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (U.T., E.B.); Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (U.T., E.B.); Diagnostic Imaging, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.L.); Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.L.); Departments of Oncology and Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (D.S.); Independent practice, Montréal area, Québec, Canada (M.-E.B.); Department of Psychology, Division of Oncology, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (D.M.); Divisions of Neurology and Oncology, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (J.H.); Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (J.H., C.F.); Division of Hematology and Oncology, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (C.F.); Division of Ambulatory Care/Oncology, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (I.M.-P., D.K.); Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (D.K.); Department of Psychology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (D.J.M.); Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (D.J.M.)
| | - Suzanne Laughlin
- Neurosciences & Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (F.L., N.S., F.W., D.J.M.); Division of Haematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (U.T., E.B.); Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (U.T., E.B.); Diagnostic Imaging, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.L.); Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.L.); Departments of Oncology and Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (D.S.); Independent practice, Montréal area, Québec, Canada (M.-E.B.); Department of Psychology, Division of Oncology, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (D.M.); Divisions of Neurology and Oncology, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (J.H.); Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (J.H., C.F.); Division of Hematology and Oncology, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (C.F.); Division of Ambulatory Care/Oncology, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (I.M.-P., D.K.); Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (D.K.); Department of Psychology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (D.J.M.); Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (D.J.M.)
| | - Douglas Strother
- Neurosciences & Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (F.L., N.S., F.W., D.J.M.); Division of Haematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (U.T., E.B.); Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (U.T., E.B.); Diagnostic Imaging, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.L.); Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.L.); Departments of Oncology and Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (D.S.); Independent practice, Montréal area, Québec, Canada (M.-E.B.); Department of Psychology, Division of Oncology, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (D.M.); Divisions of Neurology and Oncology, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (J.H.); Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (J.H., C.F.); Division of Hematology and Oncology, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (C.F.); Division of Ambulatory Care/Oncology, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (I.M.-P., D.K.); Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (D.K.); Department of Psychology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (D.J.M.); Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (D.J.M.)
| | - Dina McConnell
- Neurosciences & Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (F.L., N.S., F.W., D.J.M.); Division of Haematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (U.T., E.B.); Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (U.T., E.B.); Diagnostic Imaging, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.L.); Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.L.); Departments of Oncology and Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (D.S.); Independent practice, Montréal area, Québec, Canada (M.-E.B.); Department of Psychology, Division of Oncology, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (D.M.); Divisions of Neurology and Oncology, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (J.H.); Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (J.H., C.F.); Division of Hematology and Oncology, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (C.F.); Division of Ambulatory Care/Oncology, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (I.M.-P., D.K.); Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (D.K.); Department of Psychology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (D.J.M.); Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (D.J.M.)
| | - Juliette Hukin
- Neurosciences & Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (F.L., N.S., F.W., D.J.M.); Division of Haematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (U.T., E.B.); Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (U.T., E.B.); Diagnostic Imaging, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.L.); Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.L.); Departments of Oncology and Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (D.S.); Independent practice, Montréal area, Québec, Canada (M.-E.B.); Department of Psychology, Division of Oncology, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (D.M.); Divisions of Neurology and Oncology, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (J.H.); Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (J.H., C.F.); Division of Hematology and Oncology, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (C.F.); Division of Ambulatory Care/Oncology, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (I.M.-P., D.K.); Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (D.K.); Department of Psychology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (D.J.M.); Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (D.J.M.)
| | - Chris Fryer
- Neurosciences & Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (F.L., N.S., F.W., D.J.M.); Division of Haematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (U.T., E.B.); Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (U.T., E.B.); Diagnostic Imaging, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.L.); Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.L.); Departments of Oncology and Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (D.S.); Independent practice, Montréal area, Québec, Canada (M.-E.B.); Department of Psychology, Division of Oncology, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (D.M.); Divisions of Neurology and Oncology, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (J.H.); Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (J.H., C.F.); Division of Hematology and Oncology, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (C.F.); Division of Ambulatory Care/Oncology, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (I.M.-P., D.K.); Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (D.K.); Department of Psychology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (D.J.M.); Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (D.J.M.)
| | - Marie-Eve Brière
- Neurosciences & Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (F.L., N.S., F.W., D.J.M.); Division of Haematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (U.T., E.B.); Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (U.T., E.B.); Diagnostic Imaging, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.L.); Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.L.); Departments of Oncology and Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (D.S.); Independent practice, Montréal area, Québec, Canada (M.-E.B.); Department of Psychology, Division of Oncology, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (D.M.); Divisions of Neurology and Oncology, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (J.H.); Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (J.H., C.F.); Division of Hematology and Oncology, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (C.F.); Division of Ambulatory Care/Oncology, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (I.M.-P., D.K.); Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (D.K.); Department of Psychology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (D.J.M.); Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (D.J.M.)
| | - Isabelle Montour-Proulx
- Neurosciences & Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (F.L., N.S., F.W., D.J.M.); Division of Haematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (U.T., E.B.); Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (U.T., E.B.); Diagnostic Imaging, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.L.); Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.L.); Departments of Oncology and Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (D.S.); Independent practice, Montréal area, Québec, Canada (M.-E.B.); Department of Psychology, Division of Oncology, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (D.M.); Divisions of Neurology and Oncology, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (J.H.); Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (J.H., C.F.); Division of Hematology and Oncology, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (C.F.); Division of Ambulatory Care/Oncology, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (I.M.-P., D.K.); Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (D.K.); Department of Psychology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (D.J.M.); Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (D.J.M.)
| | - Daniel Keene
- Neurosciences & Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (F.L., N.S., F.W., D.J.M.); Division of Haematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (U.T., E.B.); Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (U.T., E.B.); Diagnostic Imaging, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.L.); Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.L.); Departments of Oncology and Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (D.S.); Independent practice, Montréal area, Québec, Canada (M.-E.B.); Department of Psychology, Division of Oncology, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (D.M.); Divisions of Neurology and Oncology, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (J.H.); Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (J.H., C.F.); Division of Hematology and Oncology, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (C.F.); Division of Ambulatory Care/Oncology, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (I.M.-P., D.K.); Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (D.K.); Department of Psychology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (D.J.M.); Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (D.J.M.)
| | - Frank Wang
- Neurosciences & Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (F.L., N.S., F.W., D.J.M.); Division of Haematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (U.T., E.B.); Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (U.T., E.B.); Diagnostic Imaging, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.L.); Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.L.); Departments of Oncology and Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (D.S.); Independent practice, Montréal area, Québec, Canada (M.-E.B.); Department of Psychology, Division of Oncology, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (D.M.); Divisions of Neurology and Oncology, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (J.H.); Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (J.H., C.F.); Division of Hematology and Oncology, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (C.F.); Division of Ambulatory Care/Oncology, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (I.M.-P., D.K.); Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (D.K.); Department of Psychology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (D.J.M.); Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (D.J.M.)
| | - Donald J Mabbott
- Neurosciences & Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (F.L., N.S., F.W., D.J.M.); Division of Haematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (U.T., E.B.); Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (U.T., E.B.); Diagnostic Imaging, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.L.); Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.L.); Departments of Oncology and Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (D.S.); Independent practice, Montréal area, Québec, Canada (M.-E.B.); Department of Psychology, Division of Oncology, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (D.M.); Divisions of Neurology and Oncology, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (J.H.); Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (J.H., C.F.); Division of Hematology and Oncology, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (C.F.); Division of Ambulatory Care/Oncology, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (I.M.-P., D.K.); Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (D.K.); Department of Psychology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (D.J.M.); Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (D.J.M.)
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Jacola LM, Ashford JM, Reddick WE, Glass JO, Ogg RJ, Merchant TM, Conklin HM. The relationship between working memory and cerebral white matter volume in survivors of childhood brain tumors treated with conformal radiation therapy. J Neurooncol 2014; 119:197-205. [PMID: 24847967 PMCID: PMC4133306 DOI: 10.1007/s11060-014-1476-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2014] [Accepted: 05/03/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Survivors of childhood brain tumors (BTs) treated with CNS-directed therapy show changes in cerebral white matter that are related to neurocognitive late effects. We examined the association between white matter volume and working memory ability in survivors treated with conformal radiation therapy (CRT). Fifty survivors (25 males, age at assessment = 13.14 ± 2.88, age at CRT = 7.41 ± 3.41 years) completed Digit Span from the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children, 4th Edition and experimental Self-Ordered Search (SOS) tasks as measures of working memory. Caregiver ratings were obtained using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function. MRI exams were acquired on a 1.5 T scanner. Volumes of normal appearing white matter (NAWM) were quantified using a well-validated automated segmentation and classification program. Correlational analyses demonstrated that NAWM volumes were significantly larger in males and participants with tumors located in the infratentorial space. Correlations between NAWM volume and Digit Span Backward were distributed across anterior and posterior regions, with evidence for greater right hemisphere involvement (r = .32-.34, p ≤ .05). Correlations between NAWM volume with Digit Span Backward (r = .44-.52; p ≤ .05) and NAWM volume with SOS-Object Total (r = .45-.52, p ≤ .05) were of greater magnitude in females. No relationship was found between NAWM volume and caregiver report. Working memory performance in survivors of pediatric BTs treated with CRT are related to regionally specific NAWM volume. Developmental differences in cerebral myelination may explain findings of greater risk for neurocognitive late effects in female survivors. Future studies are needed to better isolate vulnerable white matter pathways, thus facilitating the development of neuroprotective interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M. Jacola
- Department of Psychology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
| | | | - Wilburn E. Reddick
- Division of Translational Imaging, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
| | - John O. Glass
- Division of Translational Imaging, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
| | - Robert J. Ogg
- Division of Translational Imaging, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
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Nelson MB, Macey PM, Harper RM, Jacob E, Patel SK, Finlay JL, Nelson MD, Compton P. Structural brain alterations in children an average of 5 years after surgery and chemotherapy for brain tumors. J Neurooncol 2014; 119:317-26. [PMID: 24830985 DOI: 10.1007/s11060-014-1480-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2013] [Accepted: 05/05/2014] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Young children with brain tumors are often treated with high-dose chemotherapy after surgery to avoid brain tissue injury associated with irradiation. The effects of systemic chemotherapy on healthy brain tissue in this population, however, are unclear. Our objective was to compare gray and white matter integrity using MRI procedures in children with brain tumors (n = 7, mean age 8.3 years), treated with surgery and high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous hematopoietic cell rescue (AuHCR) an average of 5.4 years earlier, to age- and gender-matched healthy controls (n = 9, mean age 9.3 years). Diffusion tensor imaging data were collected to evaluate tissue integrity throughout the brain, as measured by mean diffusivity (MD), a marker of glial, neuronal, and axonal status, and fractional anisotropy (FA), an index of axonal health. Individual MD and FA maps were calculated, normalized, smoothed, and compared between groups using analysis of covariance, with age and sex as covariates. Higher MD values, indicative of injury, emerged in patients compared with controls (p < .05, corrected for multiple comparisons), and were especially apparent in the central thalamus, external capsule, putamen, globus pallidus and pons. Reduced FA values in some regions did not reach significance after correction for multiple comparisons. Children treated with surgery and high-dose chemotherapy with AuHCR for brain tumors an average of 5.4 years earlier show alterations in white and gray matter in multiple brain areas distant from the tumor site, raising the possibility for long-term consequences of the tumor or treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Baron Nelson
- Children's Hospital Los Angeles, 4650 Sunset Blvd. MS #54, Los Angeles, CA, 90027, USA,
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Horská A, Nidecker A, Intrapiromkul J, Tannazi F, Ardekani S, Brant LJ, Wharam M, Mahone EM. Diffusion tensor imaging of deep gray matter in children treated for brain malignancies. Childs Nerv Syst 2014; 30:631-8. [PMID: 24264381 PMCID: PMC3972284 DOI: 10.1007/s00381-013-2315-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2013] [Accepted: 10/28/2013] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Previous DTI studies reported microstructural changes in white matter of patients receiving treatment for brain malignancies. The primary aim of this prospective pilot longitudinal study was to examine if DTI can detect microstructural changes in deep gray matter (as evaluated by the apparent diffusion coefficient, ADC) between pediatric patients treated with cranial radiation therapy and typically developing healthy children. The relationship between ADC and neurobehavioral performance was also examined. METHODS ADC was measured at 1.5 T in the caudate, putamen, globus pallidus, thalamus, and hippocampus in nine patients (mean age 11.8 years) and nine age-matched healthy controls. The study was designed with four visits: baseline, 6-month, 15-month, and 27-month follow-ups. RESULTS Patients had 24 % higher overall mean ADC in the hippocampus compared with controls (p = 0.003). Post hoc analyses revealed significantly elevated ADC at baseline (p = 0.003) and at the 27-month follow-up (p = 0.006). Nevertheless, patients performed normally on a verbal memory test considered to be a hippocampus-related function. Relative to controls, patients' performance on the tests of the visual-spatial working memory decreased over time (group by visit, p = 0.036). Both patients and controls showed a decline in motor speed with increasing ADC in the globus pallidus and putamen. CONCLUSIONS Childhood brain malignancies and their treatment may affect gray matter microstructure as measured by water diffusion. Significant findings in the hippocampus but not other regions suggest that differences in tissue sensitivity to disease- and treatment-related injury among gray matter regions may exist. ADC in basal ganglia may be associated with motor performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alena Horská
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Division of Neuroradiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA,
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE Fronto-cerebellar association fibers (FCF) are involved in neurocognitive regulatory circuitry. This may also be relevant for cerebellar mutism syndrome (CMS) as a complication following posterior fossa tumor removal in children. In the present study, we investigated FCF by diffusion tensor imaging in affected children and controls. METHODS Diffusion-weighted MR imaging at 3 T (GE) allowed tractography of FCF using a fiber tracking algorithm software (Brainlab 2.6) in 29 patients after posterior fossa tumor removal and in 10 healthy peers. Fiber tract volumes were assessed and fiber signals were evaluated in a semiquantitative manner along the anatomical course. RESULTS Volumes of FCF revealed significant diminished values in pediatric patients with symptoms of CMS (19.3 ± 11.7 cm(3)) when compared with patients without symptoms of CMS (26.9 ± 11.9 cm(3)) and with healthy peers (36.5 ± 13.82 cm(3)). In medulloblastoma patients, the volume of FCF was also significantly reduced in patients with symptoms of CMS despite having the same antitumor therapy. In semiquantitative analysis of the fiber tract signals, differences were observed in the superior cerebellar peduncles and midline cerebellar structures in patients with symptoms of CMS. CONCLUSION Using DTI, which allows the visualization of fronto-cerebellar fiber tracts, lower FCF tract volumes and diminished fiber signal intensities at the level of the superior cerebellar peduncles and in midline cerebellar structures were identified in patients with postoperative symptoms of CMS. Our study refers to the role of a neural circuitry between frontal lobes and the cerebellum being involved in neurocognitive impairment after posterior fossa tumor treatment in children.
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Eurythmy therapy in the aftercare of pediatric posterior fossa tumour survivors—A pilot study. Complement Ther Med 2013; 21 Suppl 1:S3-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2012.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2011] [Revised: 02/10/2012] [Accepted: 02/13/2012] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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Uh J, Merchant TE, Li Y, Feng T, Gajjar A, Ogg RJ, Hua C. Differences in brainstem fiber tract response to radiation: a longitudinal diffusion tensor imaging study. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2013; 86:292-7. [PMID: 23474114 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2013.01.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2012] [Revised: 01/17/2013] [Accepted: 01/25/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To determine whether radiation-induced changes in white matter tracts are uniform across the brainstem. METHODS AND MATERIALS We analyzed serial diffusion tensor imaging data, acquired before radiation therapy and over 48 to 72 months of follow-up, from 42 pediatric patients (age 6-20 years) with medulloblastoma. FSL software (FMRIB, Oxford, UK) was used to calculate fractional anisotropy (FA) and axial, radial, and mean diffusivities. For a consistent identification of volumes of interest (VOIs), the parametric maps of each patient were transformed to a standard brain space (MNI152), on which we identified VOIs including corticospinal tract (CST), medial lemniscus (ML), transverse pontine fiber (TPF), and middle cerebellar peduncle (MCP) at the level of pons. Temporal changes of DTI parameters in VOIs were compared using a linear mixed effect model. RESULTS Radiation-induced white matter injury was marked by a decline in FA after treatment. The decline was often accompanied by decreased axial diffusivity, increased radial diffusivity, or both. This implied axonal damage and demyelination. We observed that the magnitude of the changes was not always uniform across substructures of the brainstem. Specifically, the changes in DTI parameters for TPF were more pronounced than in other regions (P<.001 for FA) despite similarities in the distribution of dose. We did not find a significant difference among CST, ML, and MCP in these patients (P>.093 for all parameters). CONCLUSIONS Changes in the structural integrity of white matter tracts, assessed by DTI, were not uniform across the brainstem after radiation therapy. These results support a role for tract-based assessment in radiation treatment planning and determination of brainstem tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinsoo Uh
- Department of Radiological Sciences, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.
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Abstract
While longitudinal studies of children treated for brain tumors have consistently revealed declines on measures of intellectual functioning, greater specification of cognitive changes following treatment is imperative for isolating vulnerable neural systems and developing targeted interventions. Accordingly, this cross-sectional study evaluated the performance of childhood brain tumor survivors (n = 50) treated with conformal radiation therapy, solid tumor survivors (n = 40) who had not received central nervous system (CNS) -directed therapy, and healthy sibling controls (n = 40) on measures of working memory [Digit Span and computerized self-ordered search (SOS) tasks]. Findings revealed childhood brain tumor survivors were impaired on both traditional [Digit Span Backward- F(2,127) = 5.98; p < .01] and experimental [SOS-Verbal- F(2,124) = 4.18; p < .05; SOS-Object- F(2,126) = 5.29; p < .01] measures of working memory, and performance on working memory measures correlated with intellectual functioning (Digit Span Backward- r = .45; p < .0001; SOS- r = -.32 to -.26; p < .01). Comparison of performance on working memory tasks to recognition memory tasks (computerized delayed match-to-sample) offered some support for greater working memory impairment. This pattern of findings is consistent with vulnerability in functional networks that include prefrontal brain regions and has implications for the clinical management of children with brain tumors.
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Brinkman TM, Reddick WE, Luxton J, Glass JO, Sabin ND, Srivastava DK, Robison LL, Hudson MM, Krull KR. Cerebral white matter integrity and executive function in adult survivors of childhood medulloblastoma. Neuro Oncol 2012; 14 Suppl 4:iv25-36. [PMID: 23095827 PMCID: PMC3480251 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/nos214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Survivors of pediatric medulloblastoma are at risk for neurocognitive dysfunction. Reduced white matter integrity has been correlated with lower intelligence in child survivors, yet associations between specific cognitive processes and white matter have not been examined in long-term adult survivors. Twenty adult survivors of medulloblastoma were randomly recruited from a larger institutional cohort of adult survivors of childhood cancer. Survivors underwent comprehensive neurocognitive evaluations and MRI. Data on brain volume and cortical thickness and diffusion tensor imaging were acquired, including measures of fractional anisotropy, apparent diffusion coefficient, and axial and radial diffusivity. Observed neurocognitive scores were compared with population norms and correlated to MRI indices. Survivors were, on average, 29 years of age and 18 years postdiagnosis. Mean full-scale intelligence quotient was nearly 1 SD below the normative mean (86.3 vs 100, P = .004). Seventy-five percent of survivors were impaired on at least one measure of executive function. Radial diffusivity in the frontal lobe of both hemispheres was correlated with shifting attention (left: r(s) = -0.67, P = .001; right: r(s) = -0.64, P = .002) and cognitive flexibility (left: r(s) = -0.56, P = .01; right: r(s) = -0.54, P = .01). Volume and cortical thickness were not correlated with neurocognitive function. Neurocognitive impairment was common and involved many domains. Reduced white matter integrity in multiple brain regions correlated with poorer performance on tasks of executive function. Future research integrating diffusion tensor imaging should be a priority to more rigorously evaluate long-term consequences of cancer treatment and to inform cognitive intervention trials in this high-risk population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tara M Brinkman
- Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105-3678, USA.
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