title: Longitudinal investigation of adaptive functioning following conformal irradiation for pediatric craniopharyngioma and low-grade glioma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Children treated for brain tumors with conformal radiation therapy experience preserved cognitive outcomes. Early evidence suggests that adaptive functions or independent-living skills may be spared. This longitudinal investigation prospectively examined intellectual and adaptive functioning during the first 5 years following irradiation for childhood craniopharyngioma and low-grade glioma (LGG). The effect of visual impairment on adaptive outcomes was investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children with craniopharyngioma (n=62) and LGG (n=77) were treated using conformal or intensity modulated radiation therapy. The median age was 8.05 years (3.21-17.64 years) and 8.09 years (2.20-19.27 years), respectively. Serial cognitive evaluations including measures of intelligence quotient (IQ) and the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (VABS) were conducted at preirradiation baseline, 6 months after treatment, and annually through 5 years. Five hundred eighty-eight evaluations were completed during the follow-up period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Baseline assessment revealed no deficits in IQ and VABS indices for children with craniopharyngioma, with significant (P<.05) longitudinal decline in VABS Communication and Socialization indices. Clinical factors associated with more rapid decline included females and preirradiation chemotherapy (interferon). The only change in VABS Daily Living Skills correlated with IQ change (r=0.34; P=.01) in children with craniopharyngioma. Children with LGG performed below population norms (P<.05) at baseline on VABS Communication, Daily Living Indices, and the Adaptive Behavior Composite, with significant (P<.05) longitudinal decline limited to VABS Communication. Older age at irradiation was a protective factor against longitudinal decline. Severe visual impairment did not independently correlate with poorer adaptive outcomes for either tumor group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was relative sparing of postirradiation functional outcomes over time in this sample. Baseline differences in functional abilities before the initiation of irradiation suggested that other factors influence functional outcomes above and beyond the effects of irradiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Kansas University School of Medicine-Wichita, Kansas, USA.
authors.forename: Kelli L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Netson
authors.forename: Heather M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Conklin
authors.forename: Shengjie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Xiaoping
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Merchant
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition / Q000528:radiation effects*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003397:Craniopharyngioma / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D005910:Glioma / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence / Q000528:radiation effects; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D020266:Radiotherapy, Conformal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D050397:Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult