Title: Tract-Based Spatial Statistics Analysis of Diffusion-Tensor Imaging Data in Patients with Small Cell Lung Cancer after Prophylactic Cranial Irradiation

Year of Publication: Oct - 2015
Page Numbers: 60-65
Authors: S Benezi, I S Karanasiou, M Koutsoupidou, E Karavasilis, G Matsopoulos, E Ventouras, N Uzunoglu, V Kouloulias, M Papathanasiou, I Markakis, N Kelekis and D
Conference Name: The International Conference on Computer, Electronics, and Biomedical Engineering (ICCEBE2015)
- United Arab Emirates

Abstract:


The recommended treatment for patients with limited Small-Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) combines thoracic radiotherapy and chemotherapy, in conjunction with prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI). Prophylactic cranial irradiation is known to reduce the incidence of brain metastases before they clinically manifest. Many studies indicate that it results in improved prognosis for limited or extensive stage SCLC patients and even achieving complete remission of disease. However, there is evidence that PCI may contribute to neurocognitive deficits. The aim of our research is to employ Tract-Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS) in order to investigate potential voxel-wise differences in Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) parameters between healthy-volunteers and patients with SCLC, before and after PCI treatment. The scope of this preliminary study is to examine potential differentiations in DTI images in five SCLC patients measured before and after PCI treatment and to find any possible differences between healthy-volunteers and patients right after the completion of whole brain radiotherapy.