White matter changes are correlated significantly with radiation dose. Observations from a randomized dose-escalation trial for malignant glioma (radiation therapy oncology group 83-02)

Abstract

A well described toxicity scale for white matter injury was applied successfully to patients with malignant glioma treated with definitive irradiation. Severe white matter changes continued to increase significantly as the total dose of hyperfractionated cranial irradiation was escalated. The time to onset of the white matter abnormalities appeared to be independent of dose. An ongoing Radiation Therapy Oncology Group study will allow correlation of white matter injury with prospective neuropsychometric testing.