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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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Verity SJ, Hagan AJ, Kearney A, Waern S. Potential Anomalous Findings on the Cerberus Subtest of the TEACh 2 in a Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Cohort. Arch Clin Neuropsychol 2024; 39:655-658. [PMID: 38215788 DOI: 10.1093/arclin/acad104] [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: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The Test of Everyday Attention for Children 2 (TEA-Ch 2) is a rigorously tested measure of attention, often used in pediatric neuro-oncology settings. Data from one Primary Treatment Centre found a high proportion of children scored in the highest range on the Cerberus subtest. This brief report attempts to answer the question: Does the Cerberus subtest of the TEA-Ch 2 provide outlying scores in the pediatric neuro-oncology population? METHODS Data representing 62 Cerberus assessments from four primary treatment centers were analyzed. RESULTS Data showed a substantially higher level of performance on the Cerberus subtest compared to other TEA-Ch2 subtests. Scores were not only higher than expected relative to children's performance on other subtests but also higher than would be expected in the general population. DISCUSSION Within our data, performance on the Cerberus subset of the TEA-Ch 2 yields somewhat questionable data from which to draw conclusions regarding sustained attentional ability in a pediatric neuro-oncology cohort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Verity
- Department of Paediatric Health Psychology, Great North Children's Hospital, Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
- Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Alexander J Hagan
- Department of Paediatric Health Psychology, Great North Children's Hospital, Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | - Anna Kearney
- Clinical Health Psychology, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
| | - Susanna Waern
- Paediatric and Teenage Psychological Support Service, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Surrey, UK
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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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Svaldi C, Paquier P, Keulen S, van Elp H, Catsman-Berrevoets C, Kingma A, Jonkers R, Kohnen S, de Aguiar V. Characterising the Long-Term Language Impairments of Children Following Cerebellar Tumour Surgery by Extracting Psycholinguistic Properties from Spontaneous Language. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2024; 23:523-544. [PMID: 37184608 PMCID: PMC10951034 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-023-01563-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Following cerebellar tumour surgery, children may suffer impairments of spontaneous language. Yet, the language processing deficits underlying these impairments are poorly understood. This study is the first to try to identify these deficits for four levels of language processing in cerebellar tumour survivors. The spontaneous language of twelve patients who underwent cerebellar tumour surgery (age range 3-24 years) was compared against his or her controls using individual case statistics. A distinction was made between patients who experienced postoperative cerebellar mutism syndrome (pCMS) and those who did not. Time since surgery ranged between 11 months and 12;3 years. In order to identify the impaired language processing levels at each processing level (i.e., lexical, semantic, phonological and/or morphosyntactic) nouns and verbs produced in the spontaneous language samples were rated for psycholinguistic variables (e.g., concreteness). Standard spontaneous language measures (e.g., type-token ratio) were calculated as well. First, inter-individual heterogeneity was observed in the spontaneous language outcomes in both groups. Nine out of twelve patients showed language processing deficits three of whom were diagnosed with pCMS. Results implied impairments across all levels of language processing. In the pCMS-group, the impairments observed were predominantly morphosyntactic and semantic, but the variability in nature of the spontaneous language impairments was larger in the non-pCMS-group. Patients treated with cerebellar tumour surgery may show long-term spontaneous language impairments irrespective of a previous pCMS diagnosis. Individualised and comprehensive postoperative language assessments seem necessary, given the inter-individual heterogeneity in the language outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheyenne Svaldi
- Center for Language and Cognition, University of Groningen, PO box 716, 9700 AS, Groningen, the Netherlands.
- Clinical and Experimental Neurolinguistics (CLIEN), Brussels Centre for Language Studies (BCLS), Language, Brain and Cognition, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium.
- School of Psychological Sciences, Macquarie University, University Avenue, Macquarie Park, NSW, 2109, Australia.
- International Doctorate for Experimental Approaches to Language and Brain (IDEALAB), Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK; Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia; University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany; University of Groningen, , Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Philippe Paquier
- Clinical and Experimental Neurolinguistics (CLIEN), Brussels Centre for Language Studies (BCLS), Language, Brain and Cognition, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
- Centre for Research in Cognition and Neurosciences (CRCN), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Avenue Franklin D. Roosevelt 50, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Translational Neurosciences (TNW), Universiteit Antwerpen (UA), Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Stefanie Keulen
- Clinical and Experimental Neurolinguistics (CLIEN), Brussels Centre for Language Studies (BCLS), Language, Brain and Cognition, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Henrieke van Elp
- Center for Language and Cognition, University of Groningen, PO box 716, 9700 AS, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Coriene Catsman-Berrevoets
- Department of Paediatric Neurology Erasmus Medical Centre, Sophia Children's Hospital Rotterdam, Dr Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Annet Kingma
- Department of Paediatrics, University Medical Centre Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Roel Jonkers
- Center for Language and Cognition, University of Groningen, PO box 716, 9700 AS, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Saskia Kohnen
- School of Psychological Sciences, Macquarie University, University Avenue, Macquarie Park, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Vânia de Aguiar
- Center for Language and Cognition, University of Groningen, PO box 716, 9700 AS, Groningen, the Netherlands
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Remes TM, Suo-Palosaari MH, Arikoski PM, Harila M, Koskenkorva PKT, Lähteenmäki PM, Lönnqvist TRI, Ojaniemi MK, Pohjasniemi H, Puosi R, Ritari N, Sirkiä KH, Sutela AK, Toiviainen-Salo SM, Rantala HMJ, Harila AH. Radiotherapy-induced vascular cognitive impairment 20 years after childhood brain tumor. Neuro Oncol 2024; 26:362-373. [PMID: 37758202 PMCID: PMC10836776 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noad186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies have established that radiotherapy for childhood brain tumors (BTs) increases the risk of cerebrovascular disease (CVD); however, it is unclear how this will affect cognitive function. This study aimed to investigate the associations between radiotherapy-induced CVD, white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), and neurocognitive outcomes in adult survivors of childhood BTs. METHODS In a cross-sectional setting, we conducted a national cohort that included 68 radiotherapy-treated survivors of childhood BTs after a median follow-up of 20 years. Markers of CVD and WMHs were evaluated using brain MRI, and the sum of CVD-related findings was calculated. Additionally, the associations among CVD findings, WMHs, and neuropsychological test results were analyzed. RESULTS Of the 68 childhood BT survivors, 54 (79%) were diagnosed with CVD and/or WMHs at a median age of 27 years. CVD and/or WMHs were associated with lower scores for verbal intelligence quotient, performance intelligence quotient (PIQ), executive function, memory, and visuospatial ability (P < .05). Additionally, survivors with microbleeds had greater impairments in the PIQ, processing speed, executive function, and visuospatial ability (P < .05). WMHs and CVD burden were associated with greater difficulties in memory function and visuospatial ability (P < .05). Small-vessel disease burden was associated with PIQ scores, processing speed, working memory, and visuospatial ability. CONCLUSIONS The study results suggest that markers of radiotherapy-induced CVD, the additive effect of CVD markers, and risk factors of dementia are associated with cognitive impairment, which may suggest that the survivors are at a high risk of developing early-onset dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiina Maria Remes
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescence Medicine, Oulu University Hospital, and Research Unit of Clinical Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Child Neurology, New Children’s Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Maria Helena Suo-Palosaari
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Oulu University Hospital, University of Oulu, Research Unit of Medical Imaging, Physics, and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Pekka Matti Arikoski
- Kuopio Pediatric Research Unit, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Marika Harila
- Department of Neurology, Oulu University Hospital, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | | | - Päivi Maria Lähteenmäki
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Turku University Hospital, Turku University, Turku, Finland
| | - Tuula Riitta Irmeli Lönnqvist
- Department of Child Neurology, New Children’s Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Marja Katariina Ojaniemi
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescence Medicine, Oulu University Hospital, and Research Unit of Clinical Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | | | - Riina Puosi
- Department of Child Neurology, New Children’s Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Niina Ritari
- Department of Child Neurology, New Children’s Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kirsti Helena Sirkiä
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescence, Helsinki University, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anna Kaarina Sutela
- Department of Clinical Radiology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Sanna-Maria Toiviainen-Salo
- Department of Pediatric Radiology, HUS Medical Imaging Center, Radiology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki University Hospital, Finland
| | - Heikki Markku Johannes Rantala
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescence Medicine, Oulu University Hospital, and Research Unit of Clinical Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Arja Helena Harila
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Svaldi C, Ntemou E, Jonkers R, Kohnen S, de Aguiar V. Language outcomes in children who underwent surgery for the removal of a posterior fossa tumor: A systematic review. Eur J Paediatr Neurol 2024; 48:129-141. [PMID: 38377646 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpn.2023.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Children who underwent posterior fossa tumor removal may have spoken or written language impairments. The present systematic review synthesized the literature regarding the language outcomes in this population. Benefits of this work were the identification of shortcomings in the literature and a starting point toward formulating guidelines for postoperative language assessment. METHODS A systematic literature search was conducted, identifying studies with patients who had posterior fossa surgery before 18 years of age. Included studies were narratively synthesized to understand language outcomes by language function (e.g., phonology, morphosyntax) at a group and individual level. Furthermore, the influence of several mediators (e.g., postoperative cerebellar mutism syndrome (pCMS), tumor type) was investigated. A critical evaluation of the language assessment tools was conducted. RESULTS The narrative synthesis of 66 studies showed that a broad spectrum of language impairments has been described, characterized by a large interindividual heterogeneity. Patients younger at diagnosis, receiving treatment for a high-grade tumor and/or radiotherapy and diagnosed with pCMS seemed more prone to impairment. Several gaps in language assessment remain, such as a baseline preoperative assessment and the assessment of pragmatics and morphosyntax. Further, there were important methodological differences in existing studies which complicated our ability to accurately guide clinical practice. CONCLUSION Children who had posterior fossa surgery seem to be at risk for postoperative language impairment. These results stress the need for language follow-up in posterior fossa tumor survivors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheyenne Svaldi
- Center for Language and Cognition, University of Groningen, PO box 716, 9700 AS, Groningen, the Netherlands; School of Psychological Sciences, Macquarie University, University Avenue, NSW, 2109, Australia; International Doctorate for Experimental Approaches to Language and Brain (IDEALAB); Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom; Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia; University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany; University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Effy Ntemou
- Center for Language and Cognition, University of Groningen, PO box 716, 9700 AS, Groningen, the Netherlands; International Doctorate for Experimental Approaches to Language and Brain (IDEALAB); Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom; Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia; University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany; University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands; Linguistics Department, University of Potsdam, Haus 14, Karl-Liebknecht-Strasse 24-25, 14476, Potsdam, Germany.
| | - Roel Jonkers
- Center for Language and Cognition, University of Groningen, PO box 716, 9700 AS, Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Saskia Kohnen
- School of Psychological Sciences, Macquarie University, University Avenue, NSW, 2109, Australia.
| | - Vânia de Aguiar
- Center for Language and Cognition, University of Groningen, PO box 716, 9700 AS, Groningen, the Netherlands.
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Verity SJ, Halliday G, Hill RM, Ryles J, Bailey S. Methylphenidate improves cognitive function and health-related quality of life in survivors of childhood brain tumours. Neuropsychol Rehabil 2024; 34:133-153. [PMID: 36580420 DOI: 10.1080/09602011.2022.2157446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The growing population of survivors of childhood brain tumors present the challenge of long-term quality of survival. The domains most affected by tumor and treatment are those implicated in development of typical intellectual functions: attention, working memory, and processing speed, with consequent effects upon function and quality of life. In this paper we present service evaluation data on the 12-month effect upon processing speed, visual and auditory attentional domains in 29 patients receiving methylphenidate aged 5-16 years (Mean=10.6). METHODS Patients received immediate-release methylphenidate and were converted to modified-release as appropriate. Mean optimal dose of immediate-release methylphenidate was 0.34 mg/kg per dose (range 0.2-0.67). RESULTS Patients showed a significant positive impact of methylphenidate on attention in all tests of selective visual attention from the Test of Everyday Attention for Children 2. A significant improvement was also shown on response time. Significant change was not found on psychometric measures of sustained auditory or visual attention, or selective auditory attention. Ratings of Health-Related Quality of Life showed a positive benefit of methylphenidate at 12 months. Side effects were minimal and not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS Survivors of childhood brain tumor with attentional and processing speed deficit show clinical benefit from methylphenidate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Verity
- Department of Paediatric Neuro Oncology, Great North Children's Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle, UK
- Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Gail Halliday
- Department of Paediatric Neuro Oncology, Great North Children's Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle, UK
| | - Rebecca M Hill
- Department of Paediatric Neuro Oncology, Great North Children's Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle, UK
- Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Jade Ryles
- Department of Paediatric Neuro Oncology, Great North Children's Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle, UK
| | - Simon Bailey
- Department of Paediatric Neuro Oncology, Great North Children's Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle, UK
- Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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Rüther M, Hagan AJ, Verity SJ. The role of CNS tumor location in health-related quality of life outcomes: A systematic review of supratentorial vs infratentorial tumors in childhood survivorship. APPLIED NEUROPSYCHOLOGY. CHILD 2023:1-20. [PMID: 37851360 DOI: 10.1080/21622965.2023.2268776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
Continued advancements in the treatment of pediatric brain tumors have resulted in a growing proportion of children surviving previously incurable diagnoses. However, survivors of pediatric brain tumors show reduced Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) compared to healthy populations and non-CNS childhood cancer survivors. This review systematically evaluates the existing literature on the influence of supratentorial and infratentorial brain tumor locations on Health-Related Quality of Life outcomes in survivors of pediatric brain tumors. Five electronic databases were searched for relevant articles published between their inception and January 2022. A purpose-developed evaluative tool was constructed to assess the quality of eligible studies. 16 of the 5270 identified articles were included in this review (n = 1391). This review found little evidence relating to the impact of brain tumor location on HRQoL, with only one study finding a significant difference between supratentorial and infratentorial tumor survivors. Key limitations of the current evidence include poor statistical reporting, ambiguous construct definitions, and insufficient adjustment for confounds. Findings from this review show that recovery from a pediatric brain tumor extends beyond recovery post-treatment and that further study into the factors influencing survivor HRQoL, including the influence of tumor location, is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marike Rüther
- Department of Paediatric Health Psychology, Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
| | - Alexander James Hagan
- Department of Paediatric Health Psychology, Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
| | - Sarah J Verity
- Department of Paediatric Health Psychology, Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
- Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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9
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Mash LE, Kahalley LS, Raghubar KP, Goodrich-Hunsaker NJ, Abildskov TJ, De Leon LA, MacLeod M, Stancel H, Parsons K, Biekman B, Desai NK, Grosshans DR, Paulino AC, Chu ZD, Whitehead WE, Okcu MF, Chintagumpala M, Wilde EA. Cognitive Sparing in Proton versus Photon Radiotherapy for Pediatric Brain Tumor Is Associated with White Matter Integrity: An Exploratory Study. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15061844. [PMID: 36980730 PMCID: PMC10047305 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15061844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Radiotherapy for pediatric brain tumors is associated with reduced white matter structural integrity and neurocognitive decline. Superior cognitive outcomes have been reported following proton radiotherapy (PRT) compared to photon radiotherapy (XRT), presumably due to improved sparing of normal brain tissue. This exploratory study examined the relationship between white matter change and late cognitive effects in pediatric brain tumor survivors treated with XRT versus PRT. Pediatric brain tumor survivors treated with XRT (n = 10) or PRT (n = 12) underwent neuropsychological testing and diffusion weighted imaging >7 years post-radiotherapy. A healthy comparison group (n = 23) was also recruited. Participants completed age-appropriate measures of intellectual functioning, visual-motor integration, and motor coordination. Tractography was conducted using automated fiber quantification (AFQ). Fractional anisotropy (FA), axial diffusivity (AD), and radial diffusivity (RD) were extracted from 12 tracts of interest. Overall, both white matter integrity (FA) and neuropsychological performance were lower in XRT patients while PRT patients were similar to healthy control participants with respect to both FA and cognitive functioning. These findings support improved long-term outcomes in PRT versus XRT. This exploratory study is the first to directly support for white matter integrity as a mechanism of cognitive sparing in PRT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa E Mash
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Psychology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Psychology Service, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Lisa S Kahalley
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Psychology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Centers, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Kimberly P Raghubar
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Psychology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Psychology Service, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | | | - Tracy J Abildskov
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA
| | - Luz A De Leon
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Psychology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Psychology Service, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Marianne MacLeod
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Psychology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Psychology Service, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Heather Stancel
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Psychology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Psychology Service, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Kelley Parsons
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Psychology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Psychology Service, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Brian Biekman
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Nilesh K Desai
- Department of Radiology, Division of Neuroradiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Radiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - David R Grosshans
- Division of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Arnold C Paulino
- Division of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Zili D Chu
- Department of Radiology, Division of Neuroradiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Radiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - William E Whitehead
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Mehmet Fatih Okcu
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Murali Chintagumpala
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Elisabeth A Wilde
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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10
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Mash LE, Kahalley LS, Okcu MF, Grosshans DR, Paulino AC, Stancel H, Leon LD, Wilde E, Desai N, Chu ZD, Whitehead WE, Chintagumpala M, Raghubar KP. Superior verbal learning and memory in pediatric brain tumor survivors treated with proton versus photon radiotherapy. Neuropsychology 2023; 37:204-217. [PMID: 36480379 PMCID: PMC10544942 DOI: 10.1037/neu0000882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Radiotherapy for pediatric brain tumor has been associated with late cognitive effects. Compared to conventional photon radiotherapy (XRT), proton radiotherapy (PRT) delivers lower doses of radiation to healthy brain tissue. PRT has been associated with improved long-term cognitive outcomes compared to XRT. However, there is limited research comparing the effects of XRT and PRT on verbal memory. METHOD Survivors of pediatric brain tumor treated with either XRT (n = 29) or PRT (n = 51) completed neuropsychological testing > 1 year following radiotherapy. Performance on neuropsychological measures was compared between treatment groups using analysis of covariance. Chi-squared tests of independence were used to compare the frequency of encoding, retrieval, and intact memory profiles between treatment groups. Associations between memory performance and other neurobehavioral measures were examined using Pearson correlation. RESULTS Overall, patients receiving PRT demonstrated superior verbal learning and recall compared to those treated with XRT. Encoding and retrieval deficits were more common in the XRT group than the PRT group, with encoding problems being most prevalent. The PRT group was more likely to engage in semantic clustering strategies, which predicted better encoding and retrieval. Encoding ability was associated with higher intellectual and adaptive functioning, and fewer parent-reported concerns about day-to-day attention and cognitive regulation. CONCLUSION Results suggest that PRT is associated with verbal memory sparing, driven by effective encoding and use of learning strategies. Future work may help to clarify underlying neural mechanisms associated with verbal memory decline, which will better inform treatment approaches. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa E. Mash
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Psychology, Baylor College of Medicine
- Psychology Service, Texas Children’s Hospital
| | - Lisa S. Kahalley
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Psychology, Baylor College of Medicine
- Psychology Service, Texas Children’s Hospital
- Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers, Texas Children’s Hospital
| | - M. Fatih Okcu
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine
| | - David R. Grosshans
- Division of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
| | - Arnold C. Paulino
- Division of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
| | - Heather Stancel
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Psychology, Baylor College of Medicine
- Psychology Service, Texas Children’s Hospital
| | - Luz De Leon
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Psychology, Baylor College of Medicine
- Psychology Service, Texas Children’s Hospital
| | - Elisabeth Wilde
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine
| | - Nilesh Desai
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neuroradiology, Baylor College of Medicine
| | - Zili D. Chu
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neuroradiology, Baylor College of Medicine
| | | | - Murali Chintagumpala
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine
| | - Kimberly P. Raghubar
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Psychology, Baylor College of Medicine
- Psychology Service, Texas Children’s Hospital
- Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers, Texas Children’s Hospital
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11
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Oyefiade A, Parthab N, Skocic J, Moxon-Emre I, Tabori U, Bouffet E, Ramaswamy V, Laughlin S, Mabbott DJ. Insult to Short-Range White Matter Connectivity in Childhood Brain Tumor Survivors. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2023:S0360-3016(23)00068-8. [PMID: 36706870 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2023.01.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Children treated for brain tumors are at an increased risk for cognitive impairments due to the effect of radiation therapy on developing white matter (WM). Although damage to long-range WM is well documented in pediatric brain tumor survivors, the effect of radiation therapy on short-range WM remains unelucidated. We sought to clarify whether radiation treatment affects short-range WM by completing a virtual dissection of these connections and comparing their microstructural properties between brain tumor survivors and typically developing children. METHODS AND MATERIALS T1-weighted and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance images were acquired for 26 brain tumor survivors and 26 typically developing children. Short-range WM was delineated using a novel, whole-brain approach. A random forest classifier was used to identify short-range connections with the largest differences in microstructure between patients and typically developing children. RESULTS The random forest classifier identified differences in short-range WM microstructure across the brain with an accuracy of 87.5%. Nine connections showed the largest differences in short-range WM between patients and typically developing children. For these connections, fractional anisotropy and axial diffusivity were significantly lower in patients. Short-range connections in the posterior fossa were disproportionately affected, suggesting that greater radiation exposure to the posterior fossa was more injurious to short-range WM. Lower craniospinal radiation dose did not predict reduced toxicity to short-range WM. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that treatment for medulloblastoma resulted in changes in short-range WM in patients. Lower fractional anisotropy and axial diffusivity may reflect altered microstructural organization and coherence of these connections, especially in the posterior fossa. Short-range WM may be especially sensitive to the effect of craniospinal radiation therapy, resulting in compromise to these connections regardless of dose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adeoye Oyefiade
- Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nadeem Parthab
- Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jovanka Skocic
- Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Iska Moxon-Emre
- Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Uri Tabori
- Divisions of Hematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Eric Bouffet
- Divisions of Hematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Vijay Ramaswamy
- Divisions of Hematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Susanne Laughlin
- Divisions of Radiology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Donald J Mabbott
- Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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12
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Hoffmann-Lamplmair D, Gram A, Krottendorfer K, Peyrl A, Leiss U, Czech T, Slavc I, Pletschko T. Sociocultural variables have a major impact on participation in patients treated for paediatric posterior fossa tumours. Child Care Health Dev 2023; 49:106-118. [PMID: 35708465 PMCID: PMC10083959 DOI: 10.1111/cch.13023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study investigates the severeness of participation barriers in patients surviving paediatric posterior fossa tumours (PFT) many years after treatment. In the past, aetiological studies on adverse outcome have primarily focused on pathobiological risk factors. The current analysis aims to investigate the importance of environmental variables. METHODS On average, 10 years after diagnosis, educational and social difficulties of 42 patients surviving paediatric PFT (mean age 17 years) were inquired using a self-constructed questionnaire following the Psychosocial Resource-Orientated Assessment (PREDI). Educational or social participation barriers were defined by self- and/or proxy-reported difficulties in school or in peer relationships. Accordingly, the children and adolescents were categorized into groups of adequate and limited participation. Subsequently, the study identified potential pathobiological (treatment type, hydrocephalus, tumour relapse, gender, age at diagnosis, seizures and cerebellar mutism) and environmental (parental and maternal education, siblings, main language, discrepancies between personal and environmental values, regular physical activity and private living space) risk factors and investigated whether patients with adequate and limited participation differed in the number of risk factors. RESULTS Almost one decade after treatment, two thirds of patients experienced educational and/or social difficulties. Patients with limited participation were more frequently associated with environmental factors such as low maternal education degree, siblings, main language other than German, discrepancies between societal and personal values and irregular physical activity, as well as the pathobiological risk factors treatment type, hydrocephalus, tumour relapse, cerebellar mutism and seizures. These variables significantly discriminated between patients with and without limited participation. CONCLUSIONS Limited participation in patients treated for paediatric PFT is common. Next to pathobiological, also environmental risk factors play a major role in educational and social participation barriers. This highlights the fact that solely considering pathobiology is not sufficient when investigating risk factors for the emergence of late sequelae. Future aetiological studies must adopt a biopsychosocial perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doris Hoffmann-Lamplmair
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alexandra Gram
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Kerstin Krottendorfer
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas Peyrl
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ulrike Leiss
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Czech
- Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Irene Slavc
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Pletschko
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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13
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Jamali M, Bigdeli F, Taheri R, Saffarrian A, Rahmanian A, Eghbal K, Ghahramani S. Surgical Outcome of Pediatric Posterior Fossa Tumors in Shiraz, Southern Iran: A Brief Report. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCES 2022; 47:603-607. [PMID: 36380975 PMCID: PMC9652488 DOI: 10.30476/ijms.2022.93334.2466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 02/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Posterior fossa tumors (PFTs) are prevalent in children, and about half of all childhood brain tumors arise from the structures of the posterior fossa. Studies on PFTs in Iranian children have mainly focused on epidemiological characteristics. This study aimed to evaluate surgical outcomes and predictive factors for survival in children with PFTs in Shiraz, Iran. A prospective cohort study was conducted from March 2014 to September 2019 in Namazi Hospital affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (Shiraz, Iran). A total of 87 pediatric patients under the age of 16 who were diagnosed with PFT and had undergone surgery were recruited. The children were followed up for postoperative outcomes such as mortality and neurological complications. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 20.0) and R software (version 3.3.1). P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. The mean age of the patients was 6.49±4.14 years and 64.4% were male. Sixteen patients were lost to follow-up, 31 died after surgery, and 40 were in remission during phone calls. The median survival time of the patients was four years. The most common type of PFT was medulloblastoma (n=46, 53%). The result of the multivariate Cox proportional hazards model showed that age (P=0.034) was correlated with postoperative survival, hazard ratio 0.90 (95% confidence interval 0.82 to 0.99). Among various predictive factors, lower age was associated with poor outcomes in pediatric children with PFTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Jamali
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Farhad Bigdeli
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Reza Taheri
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Arash Saffarrian
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Abdolkarim Rahmanian
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Keyvan Eghbal
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Sulmaz Ghahramani
- Health Policy Research Center, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
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14
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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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15
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Voon NS, Manan HA, Yahya N. Diffusion tensor imaging indices as biomarkers for cognitive changes following paediatric radiotherapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Strahlenther Onkol 2022; 198:409-426. [PMID: 35238981 DOI: 10.1007/s00066-022-01905-6] [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: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can detect subtle manifestations of white matter (WM) injury following paediatric radiotherapy, which may be a potential biomarker for cognitive changes. This study aimed to synthesise the relationships between DTI indices and cognitive changes following paediatric radiotherapy through systematic review and meta-analysis. PubMed and Scopus electronic databases were used to identify eligible studies. Quality assessment was performed using the National Institute of Health (NIH) Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies. Information on demographics, DTI changes, and associations to cognitive outcomes were extracted. Meta-analyses were performed on DTI changes in specific anatomical locations. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed in the preparation of this report. Eighteen studies were included (median study size: 21; range 18-146). 17/18 studies showed significant cognitive decline following irradiation. Meta-analyses found significant cognitive changes within patient's group of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL; standard mean differences [SMD] = -0.075, P = 0.01) and brain tumours (BT; SMD = -1.037, P ≤ 0.001) compared to control/baseline. Both groups also had significantly lower fractional anisotropy (FA) scores in the corpus callosum (ALL: SMD = -0.979, P = 0.002; BT: SMD = -1.025, P < 0.001). Decreased FA was consistently associated with cognitive decline. Correlation on WMFA integrity to cognitive domains was statistically significant (Z = 9.86, P < 0.001) with a large effect size (r = 0.52). White matter tract integrity of the corpus callosum measured with FA has the potential to be a biomarker for radiotherapy-related cognitive decline. Inclusion of DTI in follow-up imaging should be encouraged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noor Shatirah Voon
- Diagnostic Imaging and Radiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, National University of Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Aziz, 50300, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Hanani Abdul Manan
- Functional Image Processing Laboratory, Department of Radiology, University Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Cheras, 56000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Noorazrul Yahya
- Diagnostic Imaging and Radiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, National University of Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Aziz, 50300, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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16
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Acharya S, Guo Y, Patni T, Li Y, Wang C, Gargone M, Ashford JM, Wilson L, Faught A, Reddick WE, Patay Z, Gajjar A, Conklin HM, Merchant TE. Association Between Brain Substructure Dose and Cognitive Outcomes in Children With Medulloblastoma Treated on SJMB03: A Step Toward Substructure-Informed Planning. J Clin Oncol 2022; 40:83-95. [PMID: 34714708 PMCID: PMC8683226 DOI: 10.1200/jco.21.01480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To characterize the association between neurocognitive outcomes (memory and processing speed) and radiation (RT) dose to the hippocampus, corpus callosum (CC), and frontal white matter (WM) in children with medulloblastoma treated on a prospective study, SJMB03. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients age 3-21 years with medulloblastoma were treated at a single institution on a phase III study. The craniospinal RT dose was 23.4 Gy for average-risk patients and 36-39.6 Gy for high-risk patients. The boost dose was 55.8 Gy to the tumor bed. Patients underwent cognitive testing at baseline and once yearly for 5 years. Performance on tests of memory (associative memory and working memory) and processing speed (composite processing speed and perceptual speed) was analyzed. Mixed-effects models were used to estimate longitudinal trends in neurocognitive outcomes. Reliable change index and logistic regression were used to define clinically meaningful neurocognitive decline and identify variables associated with decline. RESULTS One hundred and twenty-four patients were eligible for inclusion, with a median neurocognitive follow-up of 5 years. Mean right and left hippocampal doses were significantly associated with decline in associative memory in patients without posterior fossa syndrome (all P < .05). Mean CC and frontal WM doses were significantly associated with decline in both measures of processing speed (all P < .05). Median brain substructure dose-volume histograms were shifted to the right for patients with a decline in associative memory or processing speed. The odds of decline in associative memory and composite processing speed increased by 23%-26% and by 10%-15% for every 1-Gy increase in mean hippocampal dose and mean CC or frontal WM dose, respectively. CONCLUSION Increasing RT dose to the CC or frontal WM and hippocampus is associated with worse performance on tests of processing speed and associative memory, respectively. Brain substructure-informed RT planning may mitigate neurocognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahaja Acharya
- Department of Radiation Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Yian Guo
- Department of Biostatistics, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Tushar Patni
- Department of Biostatistics, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Yimei Li
- Department of Biostatistics, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Chuang Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Melissa Gargone
- Department of Radiation Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Jason M. Ashford
- Department of Psychology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Lydia Wilson
- Department of Radiation Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Austin Faught
- Department of Radiation Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Wilburn E. Reddick
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Zoltan Patay
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Amar Gajjar
- Division of Neuro-Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Heather M. Conklin
- Department of Psychology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Thomas E. Merchant
- Department of Radiation Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
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17
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Dasgupta A, Maitre M, Pungavkar S, Gupta T. Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Contemporary Management of Medulloblastoma: Current and Emerging Applications. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2423:187-214. [PMID: 34978700 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1952-0_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Medulloblastoma, the most common malignant primary brain tumor in children, is now considered to comprise of four distinct molecular subgroups-wingless (WNT), sonic hedgehog (SHH), Group 3, and Group 4 medulloblastoma, each associated with distinct developmental origins, unique transcriptional profiles, diverse phenotypes, and variable clinical behavior. Due to its exquisite anatomic resolution, multiparametric nature, and ability to image the entire craniospinal axis, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the preferred and recommended first-line imaging modality for suspected brain tumors including medulloblastoma. Preoperative MRI can reliably differentiate medulloblastoma from other common childhood posterior fossa masses such as ependymoma, pilocytic astrocytoma, and brainstem glioma. On T1-weighted images, medulloblastoma is generally iso- to hypointense, while on T2-weighted images, the densely packed cellular component of the tumor is significantly hypointense and displays restricted diffusion on diffusion-weighted imaging. Following intravenous gadolinium, medulloblastoma shows significant but variable and heterogeneous contrast enhancement. Given the propensity of neuraxial spread in medulloblastoma, sagittal fat-suppressed T1-postcontrast spinal MRI is recommended to rule out leptomeningeal metastases for accurate staging. Following neurosurgical excision, postoperative MRI done within 24-48 h confirms the extent of resection, accurately quantifying residual tumor burden imperative for risk assignment. Post-treatment MRI is needed to assess response and effectiveness of adjuvant radiotherapy and systemic chemotherapy. After completion of planned therapy, surveillance MRI is recommended periodically on follow-up for early detection of recurrence for timely institution of salvage therapy, as well as for monitoring treatment-related late complications. Recent studies suggest that preoperative MRI can reliably identify SHH and Group 4 medulloblastoma but has suboptimal predictive accuracy for WNT and Group 3 tumors. In this review, we focus on the role of MRI in the diagnosis, staging, and quantifying residual disease; post-treatment response assessment; and periodic surveillance, and provide a brief summary on radiogenomics in the contemporary management of medulloblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Archya Dasgupta
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Neuro-Oncology Disease Management Group, Tata Memorial Centre, Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai, India.
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Madan Maitre
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Neuro-Oncology Disease Management Group, Tata Memorial Centre, Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai, India
| | - Sona Pungavkar
- Department of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging, Global Hospitals, Mumbai, India
| | - Tejpal Gupta
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Neuro-Oncology Disease Management Group, Tata Memorial Centre, Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai, India
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18
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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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19
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Graph Theoretical Analysis of Brain Network Characteristics in Brain Tumor Patients: A Systematic Review. Neuropsychol Rev 2021; 32:651-675. [PMID: 34235627 DOI: 10.1007/s11065-021-09512-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Graph theory is a branch of mathematics that allows for the characterization of complex networks, and has rapidly grown in popularity in network neuroscience in recent years. Researchers have begun to use graph theory to describe the brain networks of individuals with brain tumors to shed light on disrupted networks. This systematic review summarizes the current literature on graph theoretical analysis of magnetic resonance imaging data in the brain tumor population with particular attention paid to treatment effects and other clinical factors. Included papers were published through June 24th, 2020. Searches were conducted on Pubmed, PsycInfo, and Web of Science using the search terms (graph theory OR graph analysis) AND (brain tumor OR brain tumour OR brain neoplasm) AND (MRI OR EEG OR MEG). Studies were eligible for inclusion if they: evaluated participants with a primary brain tumor, used graph theoretical analyses on structural or functional MRI data, MEG, or EEG, were in English, and were an empirical research study. Seventeen papers met criteria for inclusion. Results suggest alterations in network properties are often found in people with brain tumors, although the directions of differences are inconsistent and few studies reported effect sizes. The most consistent finding suggests increased network segregation. Changes are most prominent with more intense treatment, in hub regions, and with factors such as faster tumor growth. The use of graph theory to study brain tumor patients is in its infancy, though some conclusions can be drawn. Future studies should focus on treatment factors, changes over time, and correlations with functional outcomes to better identify those in need of early intervention.
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20
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Aleksonis HA, Krishnamurthy LC, King TZ. White matter hyperintensity volumes are related to processing speed in long-term survivors of childhood cerebellar tumors. J Neurooncol 2021; 154:63-72. [PMID: 34231115 DOI: 10.1007/s11060-021-03799-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Across several clinical populations, higher white matter hyperintensity (WMH) burden is consistently associated with decreases in cognitive performance, especially processing speed. Research of childhood cancer survivors has not utilized WMH quantification methodology to better understand the impact of WMH burden and its relationship with core cognitive skills. The present study aimed to quantify WMH volumes in a sample of long-term survivors of childhood cerebellar tumor and investigate the relationships with performance on a measure of oral processing speed. To further explore brain-behavior relationships, multivariate sparse canonical correlations was employed to identify WMH areas that predict processing speed performance. METHODS Thirty-five survivors and 56 healthy controls underwent neuroimaging and completed a measure of oral processing speed. The survivor group was further divided based on treatment (i.e., chemoradiation therapy (n = 20) vs. surgery only (n = 15)) to better understand the impact of treatment. RESULTS Survivors, and especially those treated with chemoradiation therapy, showed higher total WMH volumes and slower processing speed. Higher total WMH volumes were significantly associated with poorer processing speed (r = - 0.492, p = 0.003). Multivariate brain-behavior relationships revealed that periventricular WMHs were significantly associated with slower processing speed performance (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION Results exemplify that long-term survivors treated with and without chemoradiation therapy are at increased risk of developing higher WMH volumes compared to healthy peers. In addition, processing speed was robustly shown to be related to periventricular WMHs using an automated neuroimaging pipeline. This methodology to monitor WMH burden has the potential to be implemented efficiently with routine clinical neuroimaging of cancer survivors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly A Aleksonis
- Department of Psychology and the Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Urban Life Building, 11th Floor, 140 Decatur St, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
| | - Lisa C Krishnamurthy
- Center for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation, Atlanta Veteran's Affairs Medical Center, Decatur, GA, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Tricia Z King
- Department of Psychology and the Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Urban Life Building, 11th Floor, 140 Decatur St, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA.
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21
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Skaarup M, Lundemann MJ, Darkner S, Jørgensen M, Marner L, Mirkovic D, Grosshans D, Peeler C, Mohan R, Vogelius IR, Appelt A. A framework for voxel-based assessment of biological effect after proton radiotherapy in pediatric brain cancer patients using multi-modal imaging. Med Phys 2021; 48:4110-4121. [PMID: 34021597 DOI: 10.1002/mp.14989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The exact dependence of biological effect on dose and linear energy transfer (LET) in human tissue when delivering proton therapy is unknown. In this study, we propose a framework for measuring this dependency using multi-modal image-based assays with deformable registrations within imaging sessions and across time. MATERIALS AND METHODS 3T MRI scans were prospectively collected from 6 pediatric brain cancer patients before they underwent proton therapy treatment, and every 3 months for a year after treatment. Scans included T1-weighted with contrast enhancement (T1), T2-FLAIR (T2) and fractional anisotropy (FA) images. In addition, the planning CT, dose distributions and Monte Carlo-calculated LET distributions were collected. A multi-modal deformable image registration framework was used to create a dataset of dose, LET and imaging intensities at baseline and follow-up on a voxel-by-voxel basis. We modelled the biological effect of dose and LET from proton therapy using imaging changes over time as a surrogate for biological effect. We investigated various models to show the feasibility of the framework to model imaging changes. To account for interpatient and intrapatient variations, we used a nested generalized linear mixed regression model. The models were applied to predict imaging changes over time as a function of dose and LET for each modality. RESULTS Using the nested models to predict imaging changes, we saw a decrease in the FA signal as a function of dose; however, the signal increased with increasing LET. Similarly, we saw an increase in T2 signal as a function of dose, but a decrease in signal with LET. We saw no changes in T1 voxel values as a function of either dose or LET. CONCLUSIONS The imaging changes could successfully model biological effect as a function of dose and LET using our proposed framework. Due to the low number of patients, the imaging changes observed for FA and T2 scans were not marked enough to draw any firm conclusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikkel Skaarup
- Department of Oncology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Faculty of Science, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Sune Darkner
- Department of Computer Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Lisbeth Marner
- Department of Clinical Physiology, Nuclear Medicine and PET, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital Bispebjerg, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Dragan Mirkovic
- Department of Radiation Physics, Division of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - David Grosshans
- Department of Radiation Physics, Division of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Christopher Peeler
- Department of Radiation Physics, Division of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Radhe Mohan
- Department of Radiation Physics, Division of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Ivan Richter Vogelius
- Department of Oncology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Faculty of Health and Medical Science, Copenhagen University, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ane Appelt
- Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James's, University of Leeds and Leeds Cancer Centre, St. James's University Hospital, Leeds, UK
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22
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Fox ME, Turner JA, Crosson B, Morris RD, King TZ. Functional Connectivity Networks and Their Recruitment During Working Memory Tasks in Adult Survivors of Childhood Brain Tumors. Brain Connect 2021; 11:822-837. [PMID: 33858201 DOI: 10.1089/brain.2020.0800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Assessments of functional connectivity of default mode network (DMN) and positive task-related networks (TRNs) using independent component analysis (ICA) may help describe long-term effects of childhood brain tumors and adjuvant treatments. Methods: Aiming to identify potential neuronal markers that may aid in prognosis and inform interventions to optimize outcomes, this study used ICA to evaluate the presence of functional connectivity networks and their recruitment during a letter n-back task in 23 adult survivors of childhood posterior fossa tumors (9 low grade, 14 high grade) at least 5 years past diagnosis compared with 40 age- and sex-matched healthy peers. Results: DMN components generally demonstrated increasing disengagement as task difficulty increased, and relationships between effective DMN disengagement and improved performance were observed in healthy controls (HCs). Low-grade brain tumor survivors (LGS) demonstrated unique patterns in DMN recruitment that suggested increased involvement of the medial prefrontal cortex in LGS during tasks. TRN components generally demonstrated increasing engagement, which was related to improved task performance in HCs for one executive control network (ECN) component. High-grade brain tumor survivors (HGS) demonstrated distinct challenges recruiting an ECN component at more difficult task levels and showed a relationship between recruitment of another ECN component and task performance, indicating a potential compensatory mechanism for some HGS. Conclusions: Findings suggest the importance of cognitive intervention in both survivor groups and the necessity to track LGS despite their cognitive abilities often resembling those of their healthy peers. Impact statement Distinct functional connectivity patterns were identified between both adult survivor of childhood brain tumor groups and peers during attention and working memory tasks, reflecting different damage and recovery from treatment. Survivors of low-grade tumors demonstrated unique patterns of recruitment of default mode network components in the context of similar cognitive abilities, whereas survivors of high-grade tumors demonstrated poorer cognitive abilities and may be utilizing compensatory executive control network components in the face of challenging tasks. Long-term clinical follow-up and cognitive remediation is warranted for both groups, including low grade cerebellar tumor patients who have traditionally not been monitored as closely.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle E Fox
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Jessica A Turner
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Bruce Crosson
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Departments of Neurology and of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Atlanta VA Center of Excellence for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation, Decatur, Georgia, USA
| | - Robin D Morris
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Tricia Z King
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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23
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Kesler SR, Sleurs C, McDonald BC, Deprez S, van der Plas E, Nieman BJ. Brain Imaging in Pediatric Cancer Survivors: Correlates of Cognitive Impairment. J Clin Oncol 2021; 39:1775-1785. [PMID: 33886371 DOI: 10.1200/jco.20.02315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Shelli R Kesler
- School of Nursing, Department of Diagnostic Medicine, Dell School of Medicine, Livestrong Cancer Institutes, Austin, TX
| | - Charlotte Sleurs
- Department of Oncology, Catholic University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Leuven Cancer Institute, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Brenna C McDonald
- Center for Neuroimaging, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Center for Neuroimaging, Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Sabine Deprez
- Leuven Cancer Institute, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Imaging and Pathology, Catholic University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ellen van der Plas
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Brian J Nieman
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Translational Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
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24
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Cavatorta C, Meroni S, Montin E, Oprandi MC, Pecori E, Lecchi M, Diletto B, Alessandro O, Peruzzo D, Biassoni V, Schiavello E, Bologna M, Massimino M, Poggi G, Mainardi L, Arrigoni F, Spreafico F, Verderio P, Pignoli E, Gandola L. Retrospective study of late radiation-induced damages after focal radiotherapy for childhood brain tumors. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0247748. [PMID: 33635906 PMCID: PMC7909688 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To study a robust and reproducible procedure to investigate a relation between focal brain radiotherapy (RT) low doses, neurocognitive impairment and late White Matter and Gray Matter alterations, as shown by Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI), in children. METHODS AND MATERIALS Forty-five patients (23 males and 22 females, median age at RT 6.2 years, median age at evaluations 11.1 years) who had received focal RT for brain tumors were recruited for DTI exams and neurocognitive tests. Patients' brains were parceled in 116 regions of interest (ROIs) using an available segmented atlas. After the development of an ad hoc, home-made, multimodal and highly deformable registration framework, we collected mean RT doses and DTI metrics values for each ROI. The pattern of association between cognitive scores or domains and dose or DTI values was assessed in each ROI through both considering and excluding ROIs with mean doses higher than 75% of the prescription. Subsequently, a preliminary threshold value of dose discriminating patients with and without neurocognitive impairment was selected for the most relevant associations. RESULTS The workflow allowed us to identify 10 ROIs where RT dose and DTI metrics were significantly associated with cognitive tests results (p<0.05). In 5/10 ROIs, RT dose and cognitive tests were associated with p<0.01 and preliminary RT threshold dose values, implying a possible cognitive or neuropsychological damage, were calculated. The analysis of domains showed that the most involved one was the "school-related activities". CONCLUSION This analysis, despite being conducted on a retrospective cohort of children, shows that the identification of critical brain structures and respective radiation dose thresholds is achievable by combining, with appropriate methodological tools, the large amount of data arising from different sources. This supported the design of a prospective study to gain stronger evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Cavatorta
- Medical Physics Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - Silvia Meroni
- Medical Physics Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Eros Montin
- Department of Electronics Information and Bioengineering (DEIB), Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria C. Oprandi
- Neuro-oncological and Neuropsychological Rehabilitation Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS E. Medea, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy
| | - Emilia Pecori
- Pediatric Radiotherapy Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - Mara Lecchi
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - Barbara Diletto
- Pediatric Radiotherapy Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - Ombretta Alessandro
- Pediatric Radiotherapy Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - Denis Peruzzo
- Neuroimaging Lab, Scientific Institute IRCCS E. Medea, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy
| | - Veronica Biassoni
- Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Schiavello
- Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - Marco Bologna
- Department of Electronics Information and Bioengineering (DEIB), Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Maura Massimino
- Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - Geraldina Poggi
- Neuro-oncological and Neuropsychological Rehabilitation Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS E. Medea, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy
| | - Luca Mainardi
- Department of Electronics Information and Bioengineering (DEIB), Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Filippo Arrigoni
- Neuroimaging Lab, Scientific Institute IRCCS E. Medea, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy
| | - Filippo Spreafico
- Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - Paolo Verderio
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - Emanuele Pignoli
- Medical Physics Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - Lorenza Gandola
- Pediatric Radiotherapy Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
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25
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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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26
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Hodges R, Campbell L, Chami S, Knijnik SR, Docking K. Communication and swallowing outcomes of children diagnosed with childhood brain tumor or leukemia: A systematic review. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2021; 68:e28809. [PMID: 33219751 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.28809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this systematic review was to appraise and synthesize evidence on communication and swallowing outcomes associated with childhood brain tumor or leukemia (CBTL). A comprehensive database and grey literature search was conducted. Studies included: (a) peer-reviewed research published between 1998 and 2019, (b) English language, (c) children aged 0-16 years diagnosed with CBTL, and (d) used outcome measures focused on communication and/or swallowing. Quality assessment was completed and certainty of evidence rated using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE). Fifty-seven studies met inclusion criteria: 46 examined communication, seven examined swallowing, and four considered both. Most studies were descriptive and prospective. Communication difficulties were frequently reported and apparent at one or more points from diagnosis to survivorship. Swallowing difficulties were frequently reported during oncology treatment. Despite quality assessment revealing methodological shortcomings, results have implications for clinical services and future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosemary Hodges
- Discipline of Speech Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Lani Campbell
- Discipline of Speech Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sara Chami
- Discipline of Speech Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Stefani Ribeiro Knijnik
- Discipline of Speech Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Kimberley Docking
- Discipline of Speech Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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27
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Uh J, Merchant TE, Conklin HM, Ismael Y, Li Y, Han Y, Sabin ND, Babajani-Feremi A, Indelicato DJ, Hua CH. Diffusion Tensor Imaging-Based Analysis of Baseline Neurocognitive Function and Posttreatment White Matter Changes in Pediatric Patients With Craniopharyngioma Treated With Surgery and Proton Therapy. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2021; 109:515-526. [PMID: 32898610 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2020.08.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Revised: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/29/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To determine the preirradiation baseline association of white matter integrity with neurocognitive function and to assess posttreatment changes in pediatric patients with craniopharyngioma treated with proton therapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS Ninety children and adolescents (2-20 years old) with craniopharyngioma were treated with proton therapy (54 Gy[RBE]) in a prospective therapeutic trial. Neurocognitive performance at the postoperative baseline before proton therapy and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data acquired at baseline and at annual follow-up were analyzed. Tract-based spatial statistics and structural connectomics were used to derive global and local white matter features from DTI. Baseline DTI features were compared for patients with average and below-average neurocognitive performance. Longitudinal DTI data were analyzed to determine the proton dose effect on white matter structures in relation to the irradiated brain volume and baseline age. RESULTS Before proton therapy, patients with below-average working memory, processing speed, verbal fluency, verbal learning, or fine motor dexterity exhibited more globally degraded white matter structures compared with their counterparts with average performance, as indicated by lower mean fractional anisotropy, decreased global efficiency, or higher modularity. Surgery, obstructive hydrocephalus, and preoperative hypothalamic involvement appeared to be related to this degradation. In local analyses, tract-based spatial statistics revealed left-lateralized associations with verbal and motor functions, which supported surgical approaches to midline tumors via the right hemisphere. The mean fractional anisotropy of the brain and the global efficiency derived from DTI increased over the 5 years after proton therapy. The rate of increase was lower with larger irradiated brain volumes and in older children. CONCLUSIONS Below-average baseline neurocognitive performance in patients with craniopharyngioma before proton therapy appeared to be related to structural degradation of white matter tracts. Posttherapy longitudinal DTI showed improving trends in global integrity and efficiency measures, particularly in children in whom a smaller brain volume was irradiated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinsoo Uh
- Department of Radiation Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee.
| | - Thomas E Merchant
- Department of Radiation Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Heather M Conklin
- Department of Psychology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Yousef Ismael
- Department of Radiation Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Yimei Li
- Department of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Yuanyuan Han
- Department of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Noah D Sabin
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Abbas Babajani-Feremi
- Department of Pediatrics and Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, and Neuroscience Institute, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Daniel J Indelicato
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Florida, Jacksonville, Florida
| | - Chia-Ho Hua
- Department of Radiation Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
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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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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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Double Dissociation of Auditory Attention Span and Visual Attention in Long-Term Survivors of Childhood Cerebellar Tumor: A Deterministic Tractography Study of the Cerebellar-Frontal and the Superior Longitudinal Fasciculus Pathways. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2020; 26:939-953. [PMID: 32342828 DOI: 10.1017/s1355617720000417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Right cerebellar-left frontal (RC-LF) white matter integrity (WMI) has been associated with working memory. However, prior studies have employed measures of working memory that include processing speed and attention. We examined the relationships between the RC-LF WMI and processing speed, attention, and working memory to clarify the relationship of RC-LF WMI with a specific cognitive function. Right superior longitudinal fasciculus II (SLF II) WMI and visual attention were included as a negative control tract and task to demonstrate a double dissociation. METHODS Adult survivors of childhood brain tumors [n = 29, age: M = 22 years (SD = 5), 45% female] and demographically matched controls were recruited (n = 29). Tests of auditory attention span, working memory, and visual attention served as cognitive measures. Participants completed a 3-T MRI diffusion-weighted imaging scan. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and radial diffusivity (RD) served as WMI measures. Partial correlations between WMI and cognitive scores included controlling for type of treatment. RESULTS A correlational double dissociation was found. RC-LF WMI was associated with auditory attention (FA: r = .42, p = .03; RD: r = -.50, p = .01) and was not associated with visual attention (FA: r = -.11, p = .59; RD: r = -.11, p = .57). SLF II FA WMI was associated with visual attention (FA: r = .44, p = .02; RD: r = -.17, p = .40) and was not associated with auditory attention (FA: r = .24, p = .22; RD: r = -.10, p = .62). CONCLUSIONS The results show that RC-LF WMI is associated with auditory attention span rather than working memory per se and provides evidence for a specificity based on the correlational double dissociation.
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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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The Effects of Radiation and Sex Differences on Adaptive Functioning in Adult Survivors of Pediatric Posterior Fossa Brain Tumors. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2019; 25:729-739. [PMID: 31084659 DOI: 10.1017/s135561771900033x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Radiation therapy (RT) improves rates of survival of patients with childhood brain tumors but increases deficits in cognition and independent living skills. Previous literature has studied difficulties in basic cognitive processes, but few explore impairment in higher-order skills such as adaptive functioning. Some studies identify females as at risk for cognitive deficits due to RT, but few investigate sex differences in adaptive functioning. It was hypothesized that females would exhibit poorer long-term independent living skills and core cognitive skills relative to males following RT. METHODS Forty-five adult survivors of posterior fossa childhood brain tumors (24 females) completed the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI-II), Wechsler Memory Scale, Third Edition (WMS-III) Digit Span Forward (DSF) and Backward (DSB), and Oral Symbol Digit Modalities Test (OSDMT). Informants completed the Scales of Independent Behavior-Revised (SIB-R). RESULTS DSF and OSDMT were positively correlated with all five SIB-R domains, full-scale IQ (FSIQ) was positively correlated with four SIB-R domains, and DSB was positively correlated with three SIB-R domains. There was an interaction between sex and RT for OSDMT and community living skills with trend level interactions for personal living skills and broad independent living skills, where females without RT had higher scores than females with RT. CONCLUSIONS Female survivors were more affected by RT than males across the community living skills domain of adaptive functioning as well as processing speed. Processing speed deficits may have a cascading impact on daily living skills. Future studies should investigate how clinical and biological factors may contribute to personalized treatment plans between sexes. (JINS, 2019, 25, 729-739).
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Garcia D, Gomes E, Aragão L, Leôncio D, Hazin I. Intelligence and posterior fossa tumors in Brazilian youth. APPLIED NEUROPSYCHOLOGY-CHILD 2019; 10:144-157. [PMID: 31274006 DOI: 10.1080/21622965.2019.1627212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Central nervous system tumors are the most frequent solid neoplasms in childhood and are frequently located in posterior fossa (PF). In Brazil, this diagnosis is associated to high mortality rates and this context is increasingly worrisome outside of large urban centers in which delayed diagnosis and defaulting from treatment compromise survivorship. Moreover, the lesion and therapeutic toxicity compromise cognitive domains. This study investigated the impact of PF tumors and their treatments on the intellectual capacity of 37 children and adolescents aged 6 to 16, divided into two groups: patients with low grade tumors, submitted only to neurosurgery (G1) and with tumors of higher malignancy submitted to neurosurgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiotherapy (G2). Using the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children, data reveal that G1 presented preserved mean performance, while G2 presented low average performance. Cluster-type analysis divided the participants into two groups regarding intelligence, clinical and sociodemographic variables. Inferential statistical analysis highlighted the influence of antineoplastic treatment on nonverbal domains. Mother's schooling demonstrated influence on verbal domains, revealing an important dissociation pattern. The results suggest the relevance of sociocultural factors on the expression of the damage, as well as the administration of radiotherapy at critical neurodevelopmental stages.
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Chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairments: A systematic review of the animal literature. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 102:382-399. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Revised: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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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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Fronto-limbic white matter microstructure, behavior, and emotion regulation in survivors of pediatric brain tumor. J Neurooncol 2019; 143:483-493. [PMID: 31073964 DOI: 10.1007/s11060-019-03180-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2018] [Accepted: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE After treatment, pediatric brain tumor survivors (PBTS) face emotional and behavioral challenges, perhaps due to tumor or treatment-related changes in brain structures involved in emotion regulation, including those with fronto-limbic connections. We hypothesized that relative to healthy controls (HCs), PBTS would exhibit greater difficulties with behavior and emotional functioning, and display reduced mean fractional anisotropy (mFA) in white matter tracts with fronto-limbic connections including the cingulum bundle (CB), inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (IFOF), and uncinate fasciculus (UF). We further predicted that mFA would account for variance in the relationship between group and emotional/behavioral outcome. METHODS Eleven 8-16 year old PBTS and 14 HCs underwent MRI, including diffusion tensor imaging to assess white matter microstructure. Tractography quantified mFA of selected tracts. Parents rated children's emotional and behavioral functioning. RESULTS Compared to HCs, caregivers of PBTS reported poorer behavioral regulation and greater internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Relative to HCs, PBTS had lower mFA within the bilateral CB, IFOF, and UF (ds = 0.59-1.15). Across groups, several medium-to-large correlations linked tract mFA and increased internalizing, externalizing, and poor behavioral regulation. Tract mFA also accounted for significant variance in the group-outcome association. CONCLUSIONS Reduced mFA in fronto-limbic associated tracts may be associated with reduced behavioral regulation following pediatric brain tumor. PBTS with treatment known to impact white matter may be most susceptible. Research with larger, longitudinal samples should clarify this relationship, allow for multiple mediators across time, and consider factors like tumor and treatment type.
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Neurocognitive, academic and functional outcomes in survivors of infant ependymoma (UKCCSG CNS 9204). Childs Nerv Syst 2019; 35:411-420. [PMID: 30554263 DOI: 10.1007/s00381-018-4015-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2018] [Accepted: 11/28/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE This is the first UK multi-centre case-controlled study with follow-up in excess of 10 years to report the neurocognitive, academic and psychological outcomes of individuals diagnosed with a brain tumour in early childhood. Children enrolled into the UKCCSG CNS 9204 trial, diagnosed with intracranial ependymoma when aged ≤ 36 months old, who received a primary chemotherapy strategy to defer or avoid radiotherapy, were recruited. METHODS Outcomes of those who relapsed and subsequently received radiotherapy (n = 13) were compared to those enrolled who did not relapse (n = 16), age-matched controls-diagnosed with solid non-central nervous system (SN-CNS; n = 15) tumours or low-grade posterior fossa pilocytic astrocytoma (PFPA; n = 15), and normative data. Analyses compared nine neurocognitive outcomes as primary measures with quality of survival as secondary measures. RESULTS Relapsed ependymoma participants performed significantly worse than their non-relapsed counterparts on measures of Full Scale IQ, Perceptual Reasoning, Word Reading and Numerical Operations. The relapsed ependymoma group performed significantly worse than SN-CNS controls on all primary measures, whereas non-relapsing participants only differed significantly from SN-CNS controls on measures of Processing Speed and General Memory. Relapsed ependymoma participants fared worse than all groups on measures of quality of survival. CONCLUSIONS The relapsed irradiated ependymoma group demonstrated the most significantly impaired neurocognitive outcomes at long-term follow-up. Non-relapsing participants demonstrated better outcomes than those who relapsed. Results tentatively suggest avoiding radiotherapy helped preserve neurocognitive and learning outcomes of individuals diagnosed with ependymoma when aged ≤ 36 months old. Prospective neurocognitive surveillance is required. Recommendations for clinical and research practice are provided.
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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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Pulsifer MB, Duncanson H, Grieco J, Evans C, Tseretopoulos ID, MacDonald S, Tarbell NJ, Yock TI. Cognitive and Adaptive Outcomes After Proton Radiation for Pediatric Patients With Brain Tumors. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2018; 102:391-398. [PMID: 30108004 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2018.05.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2017] [Revised: 05/24/2018] [Accepted: 05/28/2018] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Radiation therapy is integral in treatment of pediatric brain tumors, but it is associated with negative long-term sequelae. Proton beam radiation therapy (PRT), which enables better focusing of radiation on tumors, may entail fewer sequelae. This prospective study examined cognitive and adaptive functioning in children and young adults treated with PRT. METHODS AND MATERIALS A total of 155 patients were assessed using age-appropriate measures for cognitive and adaptive functioning at start of or during PRT (baseline) and at follow-up. Mean age at baseline was 8.9 years; mean follow-up interval was 3.6 years. Diagnoses included medulloblastoma, craniopharyngioma, ependymoma, glial tumors, germ cell tumors, and others. The sample was divided by age at baseline (<6 years [N = 57, or 37%] and ≥6 years [N = 98, or 63%]) and by PRT field (craniospinal irradiation [CSI; 39%] and focal irradiation [61%]). RESULTS Scores for mean intelligence quotient (IQ) and adaptive functioning skills were in the average range at baseline and follow-up. Overall, mean IQ scores declined from 105.4 to 102.5 (P = .005); however, only the younger CSI group showed significant decline. Patients receiving CSI, regardless of age, appeared particularly vulnerable in IQ, processing speed, and working memory. Adaptive skills were stable across the 4 age-by-treatment field groups. CONCLUSIONS At a mean of 3.6 years after PRT, IQ declined slightly for the group, largely because of significant IQ decline in younger patients treated with CSI. No significant change was seen in patients <6 years treated with focal PRT or in older patients. Adaptive skills remained stable across age and treatment type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret B Pulsifer
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts.
| | - Haley Duncanson
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Julie Grieco
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Casey Evans
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - Shannon MacDonald
- Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Nancy J Tarbell
- Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Torunn I Yock
- Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
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41
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Longitudinal assessment of chemotherapy-induced changes in brain and cognitive functioning: A systematic review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2018; 92:304-317. [PMID: 29791867 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2017] [Revised: 05/08/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
In addition to the burden of a life-threatening diagnosis, cancer patients are struggling with adverse side-effects from cancer treatment. Chemotherapy has been linked to an array of cognitive impairments and alterations in brain structure and function ("chemobrain"). In this review, we summarized the existing evidence that evaluate the changes in cognitive functioning and brain with chemotherapy, as assessed using structural and functional MRI-based techniques in a longitudinal design. This review followed the latest PRISMA guidelines using Embase, Medline, PsychINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science databases with date restrictions from 2012 to 2017. Fourteen research articles met the key inclusion criteria: (i) the studies involved adult cancer patients (mean age ≥ 18); (ii) the use of chemotherapy in the treatment of cancer; (iii) pre-post assessment of behavioral and brain-based outcomes; and (iv) abstracts written in English. Effect sizes of subjective and objective cognitive impairments from the reviewed studies were estimated using Cohen's d or z-scores. We calculated percentage of mean change or effect sizes for main neuroimaging findings when data were available. Strength of the correlations between brain alterations and cognitive changes was obtained using squared correlation coefficients. Small to medium effect sizes were shown? on individual tests of attention, processing speed, verbal memory, and executive control; and medium effect sizes on self-report questionnaires. Neuroimaging data showed reduced grey matter density in cancer patients in frontal, parietal, and temporal regions. Changes in brain function (brain activation and cerebral blood flow) were observed with cancer across functional networks involving (pre)frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal, and cerebellar regions. Data from diffusion-weighted MRI suggested reduced white matter integrity involving the superior longitudinal fasciculus, corpus callosum, forceps major, and corona radiate, and altered structural connectivity across the whole brain network. Finally, we observed moderate-to-strong correlations between worsening cognitive function and morphological changes in frontal brain regions. While MRI is a powerful tool for detection of longitudinal brain changes in the 'chemobrain', the underlying biological mechanisms are still unclear. Continued work in this field will hopefully detect MRI metrics to be used as biomarkers to help guide cognitive treatment at the individual cancer patient level.
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Matsos A, Loomes M, Zhou I, Macmillan E, Sabel I, Rotziokos E, Beckwith W, Johnston I. Chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairments: White matter pathologies. Cancer Treat Rev 2017; 61:6-14. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2017.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2017] [Revised: 09/27/2017] [Accepted: 09/28/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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43
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King TZ, Ailion AS, Fox ME, Hufstetler SM. Neurodevelopmental model of long-term outcomes of adult survivors of childhood brain tumors. Child Neuropsychol 2017; 25:1-21. [DOI: 10.1080/09297049.2017.1380178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tricia Z. King
- Department of Psychology and the Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Alyssa S. Ailion
- Department of Psychology and the Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Michelle E. Fox
- Department of Psychology and the Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Schell M. Hufstetler
- Department of Psychology and the Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
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44
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Bull C, Cooper C, Lindahl V, Fitting S, Persson AI, Grandér R, Alborn AM, Björk-Eriksson T, Kuhn HG, Blomgren K. Exercise in Adulthood after Irradiation of the Juvenile Brain Ameliorates Long-Term Depletion of Oligodendroglial Cells. Radiat Res 2017; 188:443-454. [PMID: 28777696 DOI: 10.1667/rr14737.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Cranial radiation severely affects brain health and function, including glial cell production and myelination. Recent studies indicate that voluntary exercise has beneficial effects on oligodendrogenesis and myelination. Here, we hypothesized that voluntary running would increase oligodendrocyte numbers in the corpus callosum after irradiation of the juvenile mouse brain. The brains of C57Bl/6J male mice were 6 Gy irradiated on postnatal day 9 during the main gliogenic developmental phase, resulting in a loss of oligodendrocyte precursor cells. Upon adulthood, the mice were injected with bromodeoxyuridine and allowed to exercise on a running wheel for four weeks. Cell proliferation and survival, Ascl1+ oligodendrocyte precursor and Olig2+ oligodendrocyte cell numbers as well as CC1+ mature oligodendrocytes were quantified using immunohistology. Radiation induced a reduction in the number of Olig2+ oligodendrocytes by nearly 50% without affecting production or survival of new Olig2+ cells. Ascl1+ cells earlier in the oligodendroglial cell lineage were also profoundly affected, with numbers reduced by half. By three weeks of age, Olig2+ cell numbers had not recovered, and this was paralleled by a volumetric loss in the corpus callosum. The deficiency of Olig2+ oligodendrocytes persisted into adulthood. Additionally, the depletion of Ascl1+ progenitor cells was irreversible, and was even more pronounced at 12 weeks postirradiation compared to day 2 postirradiation. Furthermore, the overall number of CC1+ mature oligodendrocytes decreased by 28%. The depletion of Olig2+ cells in irradiated animals was reversed by 4 weeks of voluntary exercise. Moreover, voluntary exercise also increased the number of Ascl1+ progenitor cells in irradiated animals. Taken together, these results demonstrate that exercise in adulthood significantly ameliorates the profound and long-lasting effects of moderate exposure to immature oligodendrocytes during postnatal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Bull
- a Department of Oncology, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Christiana Cooper
- b Center for Brain Repair and Rehabilitation, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Veronica Lindahl
- b Center for Brain Repair and Rehabilitation, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Sylvia Fitting
- c Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Anders I Persson
- d Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Rita Grandér
- a Department of Oncology, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ann-Marie Alborn
- b Center for Brain Repair and Rehabilitation, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Thomas Björk-Eriksson
- a Department of Oncology, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - H Georg Kuhn
- b Center for Brain Repair and Rehabilitation, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Klas Blomgren
- e Karolinska Institutet, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Stockholm, Sweden.,f Department of Pediatric Oncology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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45
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Antonini TN, Ris MD, Grosshans DR, Mahajan A, Okcu MF, Chintagumpala M, Paulino A, Child AE, Orobio J, Stancel HH, Kahalley LS. Attention, processing speed, and executive functioning in pediatric brain tumor survivors treated with proton beam radiation therapy. Radiother Oncol 2017; 124:89-97. [PMID: 28655455 DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2017.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2017] [Revised: 05/31/2017] [Accepted: 06/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE This study examines attention, processing speed, and executive functioning in pediatric brain tumor survivors treated with proton beam radiation therapy (PBRT). MATERIAL AND METHODS We examined 39 survivors (age 6-19years) who were 3.61years post-PBRT on average. Craniospinal (CSI; n=21) and focal (n=18) subgroups were analyzed. Attention, processing speed, and executive functioning scores were compared to population norms, and clinical/demographic risk factors were examined. RESULTS As a group, survivors treated with focal PBRT exhibited attention, processing speed, and executive functioning that did not differ from population norms (all p>0.05). Performance in the CSI group across attention scales was normative (all p>0.05), but areas of relative weakness were identified on one executive functioning subtest and several processing speed subtests (all p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS Survivors treated with PBRT may exhibit relative resilience in cognitive domains traditionally associated with radiation late effects. Attention, processing speed, and executive functioning remained intact and within normal limits for survivors treated with focal PBRT. Among survivors treated with CSI, a score pattern emerged that was suggestive of difficulties in underlying component skills (i.e., processing speed) rather than true executive dysfunction. No evidence of profound cognitive impairment was found in either group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya N Antonini
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Psychology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
| | - M Douglas Ris
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Psychology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
| | - David R Grosshans
- Division of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, United States
| | - Anita Mahajan
- Division of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, United States
| | - M Fatih Okcu
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
| | - Murali Chintagumpala
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
| | - Arnold Paulino
- Division of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, United States
| | - Amanda E Child
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, United States
| | - Jessica Orobio
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Psychology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
| | - Heather H Stancel
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Psychology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
| | - Lisa S Kahalley
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Psychology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States.
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46
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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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47
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The impact on cognitive functions of patients with pituitary adenoma before and after surgery. Neurol Sci 2017; 38:1315-1321. [DOI: 10.1007/s10072-017-2980-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2016] [Accepted: 04/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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48
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Long-term neuropsychological follow-up of young children with medulloblastoma treated with sequential high-dose chemotherapy and irradiation sparing approach. J Neurooncol 2017; 133:119-128. [DOI: 10.1007/s11060-017-2409-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2016] [Accepted: 04/01/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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49
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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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50
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Brown RJ, Jun BJ, Cushman JD, Nguyen C, Beighley AH, Blanchard J, Iwamoto K, Schaue D, Harris NG, Jentsch JD, Bluml S, McBride WH. Changes in Imaging and Cognition in Juvenile Rats After Whole-Brain Irradiation. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2016; 96:470-478. [PMID: 27478168 PMCID: PMC5563160 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2016.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2015] [Revised: 06/07/2016] [Accepted: 06/09/2016] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE In pediatric cancer survivors treated with whole-brain irradiation (WBI), long-term cognitive deficits and morbidity develop that are poorly understood and for which there is no treatment. We describe similar cognitive defects in juvenile WBI rats and correlate them with alterations in diffusion tensor imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) during brain development. METHODS AND MATERIALS Juvenile Fischer rats received clinically relevant fractionated doses of WBI or a high-dose exposure. Diffusion tensor imaging and MRS were performed at the time of WBI and during the subacute (3-month) and late (6-month) phases, before behavioral testing. RESULTS Fractional anisotropy in the splenium of the corpus callosum increased steadily over the study period, reflecting brain development. WBI did not alter the subacute response, but thereafter there was no further increase in fractional anisotropy, especially in the high-dose group. Similarly, the ratios of various MRS metabolites to creatine increased over the study period, and in general, the most significant changes after WBI were during the late phase and with the higher dose. The most dramatic changes observed were in glutamine-creatine ratios that failed to increase normally between 3 and 6 months after either radiation dose. WBI did not affect the ambulatory response to novel open field testing in the subacute phase, but locomotor habituation was impaired and anxiety-like behaviors increased. As for cognitive measures, the most dramatic impairments were in novel object recognition late after either dose of WBI. CONCLUSIONS The developing brains of juvenile rats given clinically relevant fractionated doses of WBI show few abnormalities in the subacute phase but marked late cognitive alterations that may be linked with perturbed MRS signals measured in the corpus callosum. This pathomimetic phenotype of clinically relevant cranial irradiation effects may be useful for modeling, mechanistic evaluations, and testing of mitigation approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J Brown
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, Department of Radiation Oncology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Advanced Imaging Laboratory, Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Rudi Schulte Research Institute, Santa Barbara, California
| | - Brandon J Jun
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, Department of Radiation Oncology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Advanced Imaging Laboratory, Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Rudi Schulte Research Institute, Santa Barbara, California
| | - Jesse D Cushman
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Christine Nguyen
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, Department of Radiation Oncology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Adam H Beighley
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, Department of Radiation Oncology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Johnny Blanchard
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, Department of Radiation Oncology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Kei Iwamoto
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, Department of Radiation Oncology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Dorthe Schaue
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, Department of Radiation Oncology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Neil G Harris
- UCLA Brain Injury Research Center, Department of Neurosurgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Center for the Health Sciences, Los Angeles, California
| | - James D Jentsch
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Stefan Bluml
- Advanced Imaging Laboratory, Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Rudi Schulte Research Institute, Santa Barbara, California
| | - William H McBride
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, Department of Radiation Oncology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
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