Multiparametric analysis of early treatment changes in glioma after receiving radiation therapy

Motivation: Understanding how MR imaging markers change in normal appearing brain tissue over the course of RT for different dose distributions could help shed light on which parts of the brain are more susceptible to RT. Goal(s): To examine early changes in perfusion, diffusion, and MR spectroscopic imaging metrics in normal and tumor regions during and following RT for different dose regions. Approach: Twelve patients were studied at before, in the middle of, and after the completion of RT. Results: Significant imaging differences in diffusion, perfusion, and NAA/creatine was found in the normal appearing white matter in different dosage maps after receiving RT. Impact: Our study has shown initial alterations in the normal-appearing brain after radiation therapy. We have detected these changes in the early stages.