Acute leukemia. Learning disabilities following CNS irradiation.
Thirteen elementary school age children with acute leukemia who had received cranial irradiation with dosages between 1,800 and 4,800 rads a mean of 6.3 years earlier were evaluated for the presence of learning disorders. The authors utilized both psychometric and educational tests. The results were analyzed according to a graduated regressed standard score procedure and yielded the following diagnoses: mental retardation, two (15%); learning disability in reading and mathematics, two (15%); learning disability in mathematics, five (39%); no psychoeducational diagnosis, four (31%). Of the nine children (69%) who qualified for a specific psychoeducational diagnosis, only three were receiving any special educational services. The failure of a previous assessment of this same group of children at our center and of other research reports to uncover a similarly high incidence of neurodevelopmental pathology may be due to the specific tests employed or to the later onset of measurable difficulties in these patients.
Fogarty
K
K
Section of Pediatric Oncology, St. Louis University School of Medicine, Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, Missouri.
Volonino
V
V
Caul
J
J
Rongey
J
J
Whitman
B
B
O'Connor
D
D
Accardo
P
P
D001921:Brain / Q000528:radiation effects; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D007938:Leukemia / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage