Imaging of Chemotherapy-induced Morphological and Functional Lung Changes in Childhood ALL and HD

With increasing cure rates of childhood cancer there is growing recognition of late effects of treatments. However, there is a lack of non-invasive and child-friendly procedures that can indicate possible late damage.

This study uses morphologic and free-breathing phase-resolved functional low-field (PREFUL) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to identify persistent pulmonary toxicity after treatment for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), Hodgkin's disease (HD) and allogeneic stem cell transplantation. The examination in the new 0.55 T MRI system does not differ in procedure and especially with regard to contraindications for an MRI examination from an examination in routinely used 1.5 or 3T devices. There is no intravenous administration of contrast medium. This method has already yielded relevant results in a previous study on the frequency of lung parenchymal changes in pediatric and adolescent patients with past SARS-CoV-2 infection detected by PCR. In addition, study participants will undergo cardiopilmonary testing by spirometry, spiroergometry and echocardiography with strain analysis to assess cardiac and pulmonary performance. For the individual patient, the duration of study participation is 120 minutes. This includes approximately 30 minutes for education and consent of study participants/parents/guardians, 30 minutes for lung function test and MRI, and 30 minutes for cardiopulmonary testing.

The purpose of this study is to assess early posttherapeutic changes as well as possible persistent pulmonary toxicity and change in cardiopulmonary performance.

Study arm: "Early therapeutic effects"

Inclusion criteria

• Diagnosed acute lymphatic leukemia or Hodgkin's disease (HD)
• Completed induction therapy or radiotherapy

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnancy, Lactation
• Known pleural or pericardial effusion
• Critical condition (requiring respiratory support, ventilation, oxygen, shock, symptomatic heart failure)
• Marked thoracic deformities/malformations
• Previous lung surgery
• Injuries that do not allow physical stress diagnostics
• Rejection of MRI imaging
• General contraindications for MRI examinations (e.g. electrical implants such as cardiac pacemakers or perfusion pumps, etc.)

Study arm: "Late therapeutic effects"

Inclusion criteria

• Diagnosed acute lymphatic leukemia or Hodgkin's disease (HD)
• Completed intensive therapy or radiotherapy

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnancy, Lactation
• Known pleural or pericardial effusion
• Critical condition (requiring respiratory support, ventilation, oxygen, shock, symptomatic heart failure)
• Marked thoracic deformities/malformations
• Previous lung surgery
• Injuries that do not allow physical stress diagnostics
• Rejection of MRI imaging
• General contraindications for MRI examinations (e.g. electrical implants such as cardiac pacemakers or perfusion pumps, etc.)

Study arm: "Effects of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation"

Inclusion criteria

• Diagnosed acute lymphatic leukemia
• Completed hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnancy, Lactation
• Known pleural or pericardial effusion
• Critical condition (requiring respiratory support, ventilation, oxygen, shock, symptomatic heart failure)
• Marked thoracic deformities/malformations
• Previous lung surgery
• Injuries that do not allow physical stress diagnostics
• Rejection of MRI imaging
• General contraindications for MRI examinations (e.g. electrical implants such as cardiac pacemakers or perfusion pumps, etc.)