Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Radiation dose linked to brain microbleeds in dogs with brain tumors
By Staudinger, Chris et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2024·Clinic for Diagnostic Imaging·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Relationship between radiation dose and cerebral microbleed formation in dogs with intracranial tumors.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 34 dogs with brain tumors underwent radiation therapy and were monitored for the development of cerebral microbleeds (small areas of bleeding in the brain). After treatment, 62% of the dogs showed signs of these microbleeds, which tended to increase over time, particularly in areas that received higher doses of radiation. While the exact impact of these microbleeds on the dogs' health is still unclear, it suggests that radiation therapy could lead to this condition in dogs. If your dog is receiving radiation for a brain tumor, it's important to discuss any potential side effects with your veterinarian.
People also search for: dog brain tumor radiation side effects · cerebral microbleeds in dogs · dog radiation therapy risks
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are a possible sequela in human brain tumor patients treated with radiation therapy (RT). No such association is reported in dogs. OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether CMBs occur in dogs after radiotherapy, and if there is an association between number and dose, and an increase over time. ANIMALS: Thirty-four client-owned dogs irradiated for primary intracranial neoplasia. ≥2 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans including susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) were required. METHODS: Retrospective, observational, single-center study. Cerebral microbleeds identified on 3 T SWI were counted within the entire brain, and within low- (<20 Gy), intermediate- (20-30 Gy), and high- (>30 Gy) dose regions. A generalized linear mixed-effects model was used to analyze the relationship between the CMBs count and the predictor variables (irradiation dose, time after treatment). RESULTS: Median follow-up time was 12.6 months (range, 1.8-37.6 months). Eighty-three MR scans were performed. In 4/15 dogs (27%, 95% CI, 10%-52%) CMBs were present at baseline. ≥1 CMBs after RT were identified in 21/34 dogs (62%, 95% CI, 45%-77%). With each month, the number of CMBs increased by 14% (95% CI, 11%-16%; P < .001). The odds of developing CMBs in the high-dose region are 4.7 times (95% CI, 3.9-5.6; P < .001) greater compared with the low-dose region. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: RT is 1 possible cause of CMBs formation in dogs. Cerebral microbleeds are most likely to occur in the peritumoral high-dose volume, to be chronic, and to increase in number over time. Their clinical relevance remains unknown.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39391956/