Preoperative and postoperative cognitive functioning in patients with frontal meningiomas.
OBJECTIVE
There is presently no specific information available concerning the nature and course of cognitive deficits caused by intracranial meningiomas. In this prospective study the authors examined the cognitive functioning of patients with frontal meningiomas.


METHODS
Fifty-four patients with frontal meningiomas were examined neuropsychologically before and after neurosurgery. The test battery consisted of standardized instruments including those assessing memory, attention, visuoconstructive abilities, and executive functions. The time period between pre-and postoperative assessment ranged from 4 to 9 months. The patients' performance was compared with the results in 54 healthy adults who were also assessed twice by using the same test battery in a period ranging from 4 to 9 months. In addition, the effect on cognition of meningioma lateralization, localization, lesion size, edema, brain compression, time course, and the occurrence of preoperative seizures was analyzed.


CONCLUSIONS
Except in the case of working memory, comparisons of pre- and postoperative assessments of cognition revealed no differences in memory, visuoconstructive abilities, or executive functions, although a postoperative improvement in attentional functions was observed. The results of this study indicate that the surgical removal of frontal meningiomas does not impair patients' cognitive functioning. Furthermore, improvements in attentional functions may occur in these patients.
Tucha
Oliver
O
Institute of Experimental Psychology, University of Regensburg, Germany.
Smely
Christian
C
Preier
Michael
M
Becker
Georg
G
Paul
Geraldine M
GM
Lange
Klaus W
KW
D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008579:Meningioma / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome