RESUMO
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: While survival times after treatment of medulloblastoma are increasing, little is known about radiochemotherapy (RCT)-induced cerebrovascular changes. High resolution vessel wall imaging (VWI) sequences are an emerging tool for the evaluation of cerebrovascular diseases. We performed VWI in medulloblastoma long-term survivors to screen for late sequelae of RCT. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-two pediatric medulloblastoma survivors (mean age 25.8â¯years (10-53â¯years); 16.3â¯years (mean) post primary RCT (range 1-45â¯years)) underwent 2D VWI-MRI. Vessel wall thickening, contrast enhancement and luminal narrowing were analyzed. The findings were correlated with the patients' radiation protocols. RESULTS: Vessel wall changes were observed the intracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) and the vertebrobasilar circulation (VBC) in 14 of 22 patients (63.6%). In multivariate analysis, time after RCT (ORâ¯=â¯1.38, pâ¯<â¯0.05) was strongest independent predictor for development of vessel wall alterations. The dose of radiation was not a relevant predictor. CONCLUSIONS: With longer follow-up time intracranial vessel wall changes are observed more frequently in medulloblastoma survivors. Thus VWI is a useful tool to monitor vessel wall alterations of cranially irradiated patients, creating the prerequisite for further treatment of late sequelae.