Diffusion Tensor MRI potential for integrated assessment of Chernobyl accident liquidators’ cognitive disorders at the remote period (correlation between clinical and radiological findings)

Relevance. Many Chernobyl accident liquidators suffer from cognitive disorders, possibly due to encephalopathy-related organic damage of the brain. Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging (DT-MRI) quantitatively assesses white matter of the brain. Detection of changes in the brain structures that are responsible for cognitive functions is critical for understanding their involvement in the degenerative processes as well as for vascular dementia prognosis.
Intention. To establish correlation between DT-MRI results and neuropsychological findings in Chernobyl accident liquidators (study group: 58 patients, 36 with and 22 without cognitive disorders) and a control group of 43 patients without exposure to radiation or Chernobyl accident-related factors – 16 with and 27 without cognitive disorders. Patients in both groups were of similar age.
Results and Discussion. Comparing patients with cognitive disorders from the two groups, significantly (p < 0.001) decreased Fractional Anisotropy (FA) coefficient was identified for the temporal lobe and internal capsule in the study group.
Comparing patients without cognitive disorders from the two groups, significantly (p < 0,05) decreased FA coefficient was identified for the brain frontal lobe, temporal lobe and internal capsule. This can be explained by sensitivity of the above brain structures to Chernobyl accident factors and their effects.
Conclusion. White matter damage detected in Chernobyl accident liquidators was similar to that in older people with cerebral vascular pathology.

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