Prospective study of neuropsychologic testing and quality-of-life assessment of adults with primary malignant brain tumors.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the characteristics of adult patients with newly diagnosed primary brain tumors associated with identifiable deficits in neuropsychologic function to target interventions to improve function and quality of life (QOL).


METHODS
Adult patients with newly diagnosed primary brain tumors and their caregivers were enrolled and underwent a battery of standardized neuropsychologic tests, allowing for qualitative and quantitative assessment and sensitive to the effects of the brain tumor, QOL, or caregiver stress.


RESULTS
We enrolled 68 patients with no prior radiotherapy. Patients with left hemisphere tumors reported significantly more memory problems and depressive symptoms. They also exhibited poorer attention and were more distractible, with poorer verbal fluency and poorer verbal learning. Patients with glioblastoma multiforme demonstrated poorer psychomotor speed and visual tracking than patients with non-glioblastoma multiforme histologic features. Patients and caregivers perceived QOL in a similar fashion, with significant correlation between patient and caregiver on hope testing and general QOL on the Linear Analog Self-Assessment Scale.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with left hemisphere tumors and glioblastoma multiforme histologic features demonstrated testable differences in neuropsychologic function and QOL that may be amenable to improvement with medical therapy or tailored rehabilitation programs. Caregiver assessments can predict patient QOL, which may be useful in patients with declining status.
Hahn
C A
CA
Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. hahn@radonc.duke.edu
Dunn
R H
RH
Logue
P E
PE
King
J H
JH
Edwards
C L
CL
Halperin
E C
EC
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D005910:Glioma / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile