Neuropsychological outcome of children after radiotherapy for intracranial tumours.
With the aim of determining the neuropsychological disturbances associated with cranial radiotherapy in the child, a cross-sectional study was carried out on 25 survivors of medial-edge intracranial tumours. Children irradiated for intracranial tumours experienced deterioration mainly in visual attention and memory, but also in verbal fluency, full-scale IQ, and performance IQ and all its subtests, compared with control groups. This deterioration progressed with time, finally involving at least abstract thought and verbal skills. The pattern of damage by irradiation varied according to the degree of brain maturity, therefore the younger the child at irradiation, the greater the decline in IQ and visual-constructive abilities, and the earlier the deterioration of visual memory and verbal skills.
García-Peréz
A
A
Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital and Medical School, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
Narbona-García
J
J
Sierrasesúmaga
L
L
Aguirre-Ventalló
M
M
Calvo-Manuel
F
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage