Neurology 2002;59:40-48
© 2002 American Academy of Neurology
Late cognitive and radiographic changes related to radiotherapy
Initial prospective findings
C. L. Armstrong, PhD,
J. V. Hunter, MD,
G. E. Ledakis, PhD,
B. Cohen, PhD,
E. M. Tallent, BA,
B. H. Goldstein, PhD,
Z. Tochner, MD,
R. Lustig, MD,
K. D. Judy, MD,
A. Pruitt, MD,
J. E. Mollman, MD,
E. M. Stanczak, PhD,
M. Y. Jo, PsyD,
T. L. Than, BS and
P. Phillips, MD
From the Departments of Neurology (Drs. Armstrong, Pruitt, Mollman, and Phillips), Radiology (Dr. Hunter), Radiation Oncology (Drs. Tochner and Lustig), and Neurosurgery (Dr. Judy), University of Pennsylvania Medical School; and Divisions of Neurology (Drs. Armstrong, Ledakis, Tallent, Goldstein, Stanczak, Jo, and Than), Radiology (Dr. Hunter), and Biostatistics (Dr. Cohen), Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, PA.
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Carol L. Armstrong, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Division of Neurology, Main A232, 34th and Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104; e-mail: armstrongc{at}email.chop.edu
Background: Assumptions about the damaging effects of radiotherapy (XRT) are based on studies in which total dose, dose fraction, treatment volume, degree of malignancy, chemotherapy, tumor recurrence, and neurologic comorbidity interact with XRT effects. This is a prospective, long-term study of XRT effects in adults, in which total dose and dose fraction were constrained and data related to tumor recurrence and neurologic comorbidity (e.g., hypertension) were excluded.
Methods: The effects of XRT on the cognitive and radiographic outcomes of 26 patients with low-grade, supratentorial, brain tumors yearly from baseline (6 weeks after surgery and immediately before XRT) and yearly to 6 years were examined. Radiographic findings were examined regionally.
Results: Selective cognitive declines (in visual memory) emerged only at 5 years, whereas ratings of clinical MRI (T2 images) showed mild accumulation of hyperintensities with post-treatment onset from 6 months to 3 years, with no further progression. White matter atrophy and total hyperintensities demonstrated this effect, with subcortical and deep white matter, corpus callosum, cerebellar structures, and pons accounting for these changes over time. About half of the patients demonstrated cognitive decline and treatment-related hyperintensities.
Conclusions: There was no evidence of a general cognitive decline or progression of white matter changes after 3 years. Results argue for limited damage from XRT at this frequently used dose and volume in the absence of other clinical risk factors.
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