Relationship between White Matter Injury and Cognition in Pediatric Brain Tumor Patients Who have Undergone Surgery
Survivors of pediatric brain tumors are at risk of cognitive, educational, social and physical challenges resulting from this disease and its treatment. White matter is particularly vulnerable to radiation and other treatments. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), an MRI contrast mechanism sensitive to the free diffusion of water, is particularly valuable in the assessment of white matter integrity. We will evaluate the relationship between cognitive outcomes and DTI metrics by retrospectively analyzing data from 152 pediatric brain tumor patients who underwent at least one neurocognitive assessment. We will look specifically for effects on 256 brain substructures, identifying which are most susceptible to treatment induced neurocognitive impairment. This will suggest which treatment parameters are associated with reduced white matter damage. These results will lay the foundation for substructure-informed treatment planning and will have a positive impact on future patient outcomes and quality of life.
