Hydrocephalus as a possible additional contributor to cognitive outcome in survivors of pediatric medulloblastoma.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the study was to assess the relationship between shunted hydrocephalus and intellectual, memory and academic functioning in a group of survivors of pediatric medulloblastoma.


METHODS
Data from measures of cognitive, memory, academic and visual-motor functioning were gathered retrospectively from 35 survivors. Of these survivors, 10 (28.6%) required ventriculoperitoneal-shunt placement for hydrocephalus posttumor resection.


RESULTS
Results revealed that participants with shunted hydrocephalus demonstrated significantly lower IQs, lower nonverbal intellectual functioning, lower academic skills in writing and math, and impairments in visual-motor abilities when compared with those without shunt.


CONCLUSIONS
These results highlight the need to explore other variables--in addition to radiation and chemotherapy--as risk factors for neurocognitive impairments in survivors. Furthermore, identification of physiological substrates underlying these deficits is needed.
Hardy
Kristina K
KK
Duke University Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, Durham, NC 27710, USA. hardy017@mc.duke.edu
Bonner
Melanie J
MJ
Willard
Victoria W
VW
Watral
Melody Ann
MA
Gururangan
Sridharan
S
D000124:Achievement; D000293:Adolescent; D002528:Cerebellar Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D007360:Intelligence; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008433:Mathematics; D008527:Medulloblastoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D011939:Mental Recall; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D017287:Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt / Q000523:psychology; D014888:Wechsler Scales; D014956:Writing