Memory deficits in long-term survivors of childhood brain tumors may primarily reflect general cognitive dysfunctions.
BACKGROUND
To analyze the impact of potential predictors on memory performance in survivors of childhood brain tumors and to examine whether deficits in memory after radiotherapy (RT) should be considered part of a more global mental dysfunction.


METHODS
We studied 126 patients with brain tumors diagnosed before the age of 15 years and treated January 1970 through February 1997 in Eastern Denmark. Sixty-nine of the 126 patients had received RT. In addition to working memory and long-term memory (LTM), general intelligence (IQ) was assessed.


RESULTS
The mean test scores in nearly all memory tests were lower than expected from available norms. In multiple linear regression, treatment with RT, hemisphere tumor location, and hydrocephalus treated with a shunt at the time of diagnosis were found to be significant risk factors for memory deficits. When IQ was included as a covariate, RT did not significantly predict memory performance, while shunt and tumor location remained significant for several but not all tests.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that in patients treated with RT, memory deficits primarily reflect a general cognitive dysfunction, and it is likely that these intelligence deficits may compromise the chances of success of special memory training. In contrast, memory deficits in non-irradiated patients may to some degree reflect specific cognitive dysfunctions being most pronounced for patients treated with a shunt and for patients with hemispheric tumors.
Reimers
Tonny Solveig
TS
Clinic of Psychology, Play Therapy and Social Work, The Juliane Marie Center, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Mortensen
Erik Lykke
EL
Schmiegelow
Kjeld
K
D000293:Adolescent; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D007360:Intelligence; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D017741:Survivors