The Effects of Radiotherapy on Arterial Diameters in Patients with High‑Grade Glial Tumors Who Have Undergone Adjuvant Radiotherapy

Abstract

Background and Aims: Our purpose was to evaluate the M2 branch of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) in high-grade glial tumor patients who undergo adjuvant radiotherapy (RT). For this purpose, the diameter of the M2 branch was measured and evaluated by means of contrast-enhanced magnetic  resonance imaging (CE-MRI) before and after RT. Post-radiotherapeutical measurements were made 1, 3, 5, and 7 months after the procedure; and  vascular diameter alterations were evaluated.

Materials and Methods: CE-MRI examinations were performed on the 32 patients enrolled in the study,  who had undergone radiotherapy of the temporoparietal region. MRI examinations were performed prior to RT (RT0) and 1 (RT1), 3 (RT2), 5 (RT3), and 7  (RT4) months after RT. The M2 branch of the MCA was evaluated on MRI images, and the vessel diameter was measured in millimeters (mm), and then  comparisons were made.

Results: Statistically significant results were obtained during RT0‑RT1, RT0‑RT2, RT0-RT3, RT0-RT4, RT1-RT2, RT2-RT4, and RT3- RT4, and comparisons of the diameters of the M2 branch of the right MCA were performed (P < 0.05). When the same measurements and comparisons  were made for the M2 branch of the left MCA, statistically significant results were found for the RT1‑RT2, RT1‑RT3, and RT1-RT4 comparisons (P < 0.05). 

Conclusion: Our study showed that the MCA M2 branch diminished in size following RT. This was demonstrated by means of CE-MRI controls performed  up to 7 months after the completion of the RT procedures