Divergent white matter changes in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma post-radiotherapy with different outcomes: a potential biomarker for prediction of radiation necrosis

ConclusionsNPC patients with RN had more sharp atrophy in the STG than those with NRN. Temporal WM volume at early-stage post-radiotherapy may serve as an in vivo biomarker to identify and predict RN occurrence.Key Points• The STG had divergent atrophy trajectories in NPC patients with different outcomes (RN vs. NRN) post-radiotherapy.• Although both groups exhibited time-dependent atrophy in the STG, the patients with RN showed a more rapid volume decrease than those with NRN.• Temporal WM volume alteration (or absolute volume) at the early stage could predict RN occurrence at the late-delay stage after radiotherapy.
Source: European Radiology - Category: Radiology Source Type: research