AI-based assessment of brain volume decrease after treatment with stereotactic radiosurgery versus whole brain...

Area of Science:

• Neuro-oncology
• Radiotherapy research
• Brain imaging analysis

Background:

• Radiotherapy is crucial for brain metastases but its long-term effects on brain parenchyma are unclear.
• Understanding differential volumetric changes between Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) and Whole-Brain Radiotherapy (WBRT) is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare volumetric brain alterations following SRS versus WBRT in patients with brain metastases.
• To quantify differences in brain volume decrease between SRS and WBRT.

Main Methods:

• Volumetric analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) space was used to measure brain volume decrease.
• Patients with 4-10 brain metastases treated with SRS (n=29) or WBRT (n=30) were included.
• Artificial intelligence (UNesT) was employed for image segmentation after registration to MNI305 space.

Main Results:

• Both SRS and WBRT led to significant increases in ventricular system volume.
• WBRT was associated with more pronounced ventricular enlargement compared to SRS, both in absolute and relative terms.
• The study found statistically significant differences in ventricular volume increase between WBRT and SRS groups (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions:

• Radiotherapy, including SRS and WBRT, is associated with a decrease in brain volume.
• The brain volume decrease appears less pronounced with SRS compared to WBRT.
• Further research is needed to determine the clinical implications of these volumetric changes on survival and neuro-cognitive function.