American Journal of Neuroradiology, Vol 17, Issue 5 907-912, Copyright © 1996 by American Society of Neuroradiology
ARTICLES |
Potential of T2 relaxation time measurements for early detection of radiation injury to the brain: experimental study in pigs
E Miot-Noirault, S Akoka, D Hoffschir, D Pontvert, G Gaboriaud, C Alapetite, F Fetissof and A Le Pape
Laboratoire de Biophysique Cellulaire et RMN, Tours, France.
PURPOSE: To investigate the MR T2 relaxation time and histologic changes after a single-fraction 25-Gy dose of radiation to the brain of pigs. METHODS: The right hemisphere of 10 Meishan pigs was irradiated with a single dose of 25 GY at the 90% isodose, using a 12-MeV electron beam. T2 relaxation time was measured within three regions of interest in the brain: those that had received 90%, 70%, and 40% of the total dose, respectively. T2 kinetics over time was compared with histologic studies. RESULTS: Brain T2 values were noted to increase within the irradiated areas. T2 kinetics were analyzed in three phases: an immediate transient phase and two long-lasting phases. These two long- lasting phases were correlated with the detection of ventricular compression and necrosis, respectively. The T2 increase within the 90% region of interest was 19%, 22%, and 26% for phases I, II, and III, respectively. T2 measurements within other regions of interest were not significant. CONCLUSION: Although our results suggest a dose threshold for T2 variations, brain T2 values increased after irradiation at a level at which disease could not be seen on conventional MR images. This illustrates the value of using conventional MR imaging in a quantitative manner to assess molecular tissue abnormalities at earlier stages of developing diseases.
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