Tract-Based Spatial Statistics analysis of diffusion-tensor imaging data in patients with Small Cell Lung Cancer

Prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) is known to improve survival to a significant degree in Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) patients. The aim of our study is to investigate changes in structural connectivity between healthy-volunteers and patients with SCLC, before and after PCI treatment. In this preliminary study we use diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to identify changes in white matter structure in patient group pre radiotherapy to control group. The results have showed alterations in white matter structure. In the patient group lower fractional anisotropy (FA) and higher eigenvalues in white matter regions are observed compared to the control group. The results presented herein are subject to further investigation with larger patient and control groups.