Abstract
Abstract BACKGROUND Low-grade gliomas (LGG) are brain tumors with a comparably moderate malignancy grade and slow progression. Most patients are young to middle-aged adults with a relatively good prognosis given the advancement of multimodal treatment METHODS . Radiotherapy (RT) is an integral component of this treatment. During RT, protons or photons are used to eradicate the tumor while minimizing the damage to surrounding areas. However, healthy brain tissue is inevitably exposed to radiation, which can have adverse effects with a severe impact on the cognition and quality of life of survivors. With the improved survival of patients, understanding RT-induced changes and their consequences becomes more and more important. Here, we investigate the volumetric changes in LGG patients 2.5 years after treatment to gain insights into the neuronal long-term effects of RT. MATERIAL AND METHODS To quantify the volumetric changes in the brain of LGG patients over time, LGG patients (N= 17) were scanned before and 2.5 years after proton RT. For both time points, volume parameters per brain structure were extracted using T1w MRI scans and cNeuro® software. The volumes of the structures in the tumor-contralateral hemispheres before RT were compared with the measures 2.5 years after RT using paired samples t-tests or nonparametric alternatives. RESULTS Analysis of the total grey matter of the contralateral hemisphere indicated a statistically significant volumetric reduction in our cohort 2.5 years after RT. An analysis targeting volumetric changes in the contralateral hippocampus also indicated a statistically significant decrease. In the following steps, additional structures will be analyzed. CONCLUSION Preliminary results suggest a potential RT-induced decrease in the tumor-contralateral grey matter and hippocampal volume 2.5 years after treatment. Volumetric changes will be compared with the received radiation dose per structure using radiation dose distribution maps.
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