Master’s Defense – Erika Maza

We are pleased to announce that our colleague Erika Joselyn Ludeña Maza will defend her Master’s Dissertation on March 21st, 2025!

Her research, titled "Effects of Radiotherapy on Brain Tissue in Tumor Patients Evaluated by Magnetic Resonance Imaging" was developed in the Applied Physics to Medicine and Biology program under the advisorship of Prof. Dr. Renata Ferranti Leoni. This study evaluated the effects of radiotherapy (RT) on healthy brain tissue in patients with glioma using quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to identify radiation-sensitive brain regions and support personalized RT strategies.

Significant increases in the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) were observed in the hemisphere ipsilateral to the tumor site after RT, particularly in the cuneus, inferior parietal, paracentral, pericalcarine, parahippocampal, precuneus, and superior parietal regions. After controlling for confounding factors such as sex, age, tumor type, scanner, imaging interval, total dose, and regional dose, ADC changes were correlated with radiation dose in the contralateral middle temporal gyrus, pars opercularis, and lingual gyrus. Brain volume reduction, cortical thinning, and most notably, an increase in ADC were observed in healthy brain regions, suggesting potential treatment-related sequelae.

These findings emphasize the importance of developing neuroprotection strategies for radiation-sensitive brain regions and individualized treatment approaches to mitigate cognitive and functional impacts, ultimately improving patient care and quality of life. Given the increasing survival rates of patients with brain tumors, it is crucial to investigate the relationship between radiation dose and the severity of lesions in healthy tissue.