Radiation-induced vascular changes in the intracranial irradiation field in medulloblastoma survivors: An MRI study

Abstract Background and purpose While survival times after treatment of medulloblastoma are increasing, little is known about radiochemotherapy (RCT)-induced cerebrovascular changes. High resolution vessel wall imaging (VWI) sequences are an emerging tool for the evaluation of cerebrovascular diseases. We performed VWI in medulloblastoma long-term survivors to screen for late sequelae of RCT. Material and methods Twenty-two pediatric medulloblastoma survivors (mean age 25.8 years (10–53 years); 16.3 years (mean) post primary RCT (range 1–45 years)) underwent 2D VWI–MRI. Vessel wall thickening, contrast enhancement and luminal narrowing were analyzed. The findings were correlated with the patients’ radiation protocols. Results Vessel wall changes were observed the intracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) and the vertebrobasilar circulation (VBC) in 14 of 22 patients (63.6%). In multivariate analysis, time after RCT (OR = 1.38, p Conclusions With longer follow-up time intracranial vessel wall changes are observed more frequently in medulloblastoma survivors. Thus VWI is a useful tool to monitor vessel wall alterations of cranially irradiated patients, creating the prerequisite for further treatment of late sequelae.