MRI Changes With Administered Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide in Patients With Brain Tumors Receiving Radiotherapy: A Pilot Study
Inclusion Criteria:
- Patients with primary gliomas visible on MRI who are planning to receive radiotherapy
or
- Patients with brain metastases>1cm who are planning to receive radiotherapy
- Karnofsky Performance Status >60
- Age 18 years
- Patients must be willing to visit Toronto Western Hospital for at least one MRI scan
prior radiotherapy
Exclusion Criteria:
- Seizures not controlled with medications, or non compliance with prescribed
anti-seizure medication
- Prior radiation therapy to the brain
- Pregnancy
- Unwilling or unable to co-operate with breathing maneuvers
- Respiratory or cardiac limitations to breathing at 20 L/min
- Medical contra-indications to limited hypercapnia or hypocapnia (known increased
intracerebral pressure, metabolic acidosis or alkalosis)
- Contraindication to MRI (patients weighing>136 kgs-weight limit for the scanner
tables; allergy to MR contrast agent; patients with pacemakers, cerebral aneurysm
clips, shrapnel injury or implantable electronic devices not compatible with MRI)
- Other medical conditions deemed by the PI or associates to make the patients
ineligible for protocol procedures