Radiation-induced vascular changes in the intracranial irradiation field in medulloblastoma survivors: An MRI study
While survival times after treatment of medulloblastoma are increasing, little is known about radiochemotherapy (RCT)-induced cerebrovascular changes. High resolution vessel wall imaging (VWI) sequences are an emerging tool for the evaluation of cerebrovascular diseases. We performed VWI in medulloblastoma long-term survivors to screen for late sequelae of RCT.Twenty-two pediatric medulloblastoma survivors (mean age 25.8 years (10-53 years); 16.3 years (mean) post primary RCT (range 1-45 years)) underwent 2D VWI-MRI. Vessel wall thickening, contrast enhancement and luminal narrowing were analyzed. The findings were correlated with the patients' radiation protocols.Vessel wall changes were o…
Susceptibility-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of cerebrovascular sequelae after radiotherapy for pediatric brain tumors
Due to sensitive neuroimaging techniques, cerebrovascular complications such as cerebral microbleeds (CMB) and cerebral cavernous malformations (CCM) are increasingly recognized as considerable late effects after treatment for pediatric brain tumor. The aim of this study was to analyze CMB in a cohort of patients after cranial irradiation therapy for medulloblastoma or other pediatric brain tumors using susceptibility-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (SWI).Forty former pediatric brain tumor patients were enrolled in this prospective cross-sectional study and examined by cranial MRI including SWI sequences. Cerebral microbleeds, clinical symptoms and disability were evaluated.Thirty-six (…