title: Auditory event related potentials as tools to reveal cognitive late effects in childhood cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to analyze event related potentials mismatch negativity (MMN) and P3a in childhood cancer patients at the time of diagnosis (Study 1) and after treatment (Study 2) to evaluate their clinical usefulness in screening potential treatment-related neurotoxicity.
  
  
  METHODS
  The MMN and P3a to phonetic stimuli were examined in 27 childhood cancer patients with age- and sex-matched controls. Neuropsychological tests were also studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The MMN peak amplitude was attenuated in the patient group at Study 1. Between the studies, poorer enhancement of the MMN peak amplitude correlated with deterioration in the Verbal intelligence quotient (IQ) in leukaemia patients. In addition, prolongation of the MMN peak latency correlated significantly with deterioration in the Full Scale and Performance IQ in the patient group. Deterioration in the Arithmetic subtest and Performance IQ correlated negatively with the age at diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The MMN changes between the studies associated with deterioration in the neuropsychological tests indicating that the method could be clinically useful. The performance of the younger patients was more likely to deteriorate during the treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Changes in the MMN response during cancer treatment seem to be of clinical importance as indicates of the cognitive outcome of childhood cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland. lisula@utu.fi
authors.forename: Liisa S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Järvelä
authors.forename: Saija
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hurme
authors.forename: Irma E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Holopainen
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leino
authors.forename: Anne-Mari
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Hatanpää
authors.forename: Hannu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mikola
authors.forename: Tarmo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kärki
authors.forename: Toivo T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Salmi
authors.forename: Päivi M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Lähteenmäki
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects / Q000379:methods*; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000592:standards; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000503:physiopathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents