title: Assessment of verbal working memory before and after surgery for low-grade glioma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  While scarcely reported in low-grade glioma (LGG), accurate assessment of higher functions is essential to evaluate then preserve the quality of life. We assessed verbal working memory (vWM) in patients with LGG in language areas, before and after surgery, to evaluate the effect of glioma and resection on cognition, respectively.
  
  
  METHODS
  About 23 patients harboring a LGG in language areas underwent awake surgery. All patients had a vWM assessment, before and immediately after the resection, in addition to KPS. vWM was also evaluated 3 months after surgery in eight patients (KPS in all cases), who performed postoperative rehabilitation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Preoperatively, 91% of patients had vWM disorders (KPS > or =90 in 22 patients). Immediately after surgery, 96% of patients had vWM worsening (50% of KPS > or =90). At 3 months, among the eight patients examinated, five recovered their preoperative vWM score, and three significantly improved it (KPS > or =90 in 23 patients).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In LGG, neuropsychological assessment is encouraged in addition to KPS. vWM evaluation before treatment showed that most patients had a cognitive deficit. Moreover, surgery induced a transient vWM worsening, which nevertheless recovers within 3 months. Specific rehabilitation might help to recover and even to improve the preoperative cognitive status.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital Germans Trias I Pujol, Ctra del Canyet s/n, 08916, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Teixidor
authors.forename: Peggy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gatignol
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leroy
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Masuet-Aumatell
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Capelle
authors.forename: Hugues
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Duffau
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005910:Glioma / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D007806:Language Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014705:Verbal Behavior / Q000502:physiology