DTI observation on changes of brain white matter microstructure and cognitive function in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy
10.13929/j.1003-3289.201810089
- Author:
Wei LIU
1
Author Information
1. Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Breast neoplasms;
Cognitive dysfunction;
Diffusion tensor imaging;
Drug therapy
- From:
Chinese Journal of Medical Imaging Technology
2019;35(4):516-520
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To explore the changes of brain white matter microstructure and cognitive impairment after chemotherapy and their correlation in breast cancer patients. Methods Totally 21 breast cancer patients confirmed by pathology were enrolled. All patients underwent DTI and neuropsychological assessment before and 1 month after chemotherapy. The fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity(MD) values of the global and regional brain white matters were compared before and after chemotherapy, and the correlation with neuropsychological test results was analyzed. Results The differences of Stroop word test, Stroop interference test, auditory verbal learning test 5 min delayed scores and the digital span backward test scores were statistically significant before and after chemotherapy (all P<0.05). FA and MD values of global white matter had no significant difference before and after chemotherapy (both P>0.05). FA values in right posterior thalamic radiation, right sagittal stratum and right superior longitudinal fasciculus decreased significantly after chemotherapy (all P<0.05), while MD values in 7 white matter areas increased (all P<0.05), including right retrolenticular part of internal capsule, right posterior thalamic radiation, right sagittal stratum, bilateral cingulum and bilateral inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus. MD of left cingulum had positive correlation with Stroop interference test (r=0.457, P=0.037). Conclusion Decrease of the integrity of regional brain white matter in breast cancer patients after chemotherapy may provide the neuroanatomical basis for the decline of some cognitive functions.
