Changes of White Matter Microstructure in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy Based on Diffusion Tensor Imaging
10.3969/j.issn.1005-5185.2025.02.004
- VernacularTitle:基于磁共振扩散张量成像技术分析乳腺癌化疗患者脑白质微结构变化
- Author:
Yuan LI
1
;
Yaqi SONG
;
Zhongru SUN
;
Ning WANG
;
Jianguo XIA
;
Weizhong TIAN
;
Mei LIN
Author Information
1. 南通大学医学院,江苏 南通 226019;南京医科大学附属泰州人民医院医学影像科,江苏 泰州 225300
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Diffusion tensor imaging;
Breast neoplasms;
Chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment;
Fractional anisotropy;
Mean diffusivity
- From:
Chinese Journal of Medical Imaging
2025;33(2):127-132
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Purpose In this study,tract-based spatial statistical analysis was used to analyze the diffusion tensor imaging(DTI)data of breast cancer patients after chemotherapy,to observe the changes of white matter microstructure after chemotherapy and their correlation with neuropsychological cognitive test results,and to provide imaging markers for the evaluation of brain injury after chemotherapy for breast cancer.Materials and Methods A total of 29 patients with breast cancer before chemotherapy treatment and 30 patients with breast cancer after chemotherapy treatment were enrolled in the study from November 2022 to June 2023 in the Affiliated Taizhou People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University.Neuropsychological cognitive test[Montreal cognitive assessment(MoCA),mini-mental state examination(MMSE)]and whole brain DTI examination were respectively performed in the two groups.Fractional anisotropy(FA)and mean diffusivity(MD)were used to compare the differences between the two groups at the structural level.The correlation between the results of DTI and neuropsychological cognitive test was analyzed.Results Compared with the patients with breast cancer before chemotherapy treatment group,patients with breast cancer after chemotherapy treatment group had decreased FA values in bilateral anterior corona radiata,superior corona radiata,corpus callosum body and genu,left posterior thalamic radiation,left external capsule,bilateral superior longitudinal fasciculus,and increased MD values in bilateral anterior corona radiata,superior corona radiata,right posterior corona radiata,corpus callosum body and genu,right posterior thalamic radiation,bilateral superior longitudinal fasciculus.The FA values of left superior corona radiata(r=0.302)and left external capsule(r=0.370)were positively correlated with MMSE results,and the FA values of left outer capsule(r=0.328)were positively correlated with MoCA results(all P<0.05).The MD values of corpus callosum body(r=-0.343)and genu(r=-0.378),left superior corona radiata(r=-0.311),right posterior corona radiata(r=-0.376),right posterior thalamic radiation(r=-0.341)and right superior longitudinal fasciculus(r=-0.392)were negatively correlated with MMSE results(all P<0.05).Conclusion In the chemotherapy group,FA and MD values in multiple brain regions are abnormal,and there is a certain correlation between FA and MD values in some brain regions and neurocognitive test results.The changes of FA and MD values in different brain areas may be potential imaging markers of the abnormal white matter microstructure in breast cancer patients treated with chemotherapy.
