title: Neuropsychological Deterioration Predicts Tumor Progression in a Young Boy With Bithalamic Glioma.
abstract: A description is given of the clinical, neuropsychological, and neuroimaging evolution of a 12-year-old boy (CG) who presented with bilateral thalamic astrocytoma (World Health Organization Grade 2). CG underwent an extensive neuropsychological assessment immediately after biopsy prior to any medical therapies and was followed up for 3 years until death. Neuropsychological functioning was thoroughly investigated by means of a detailed battery that included intelligence and cognitive functions. Evolution was characterized by cognitive deterioration that preceded neuroimaging signs of tumor progression. Starting from normal cognitive organization, the child exhibited visuospatial memory deficits and, afterward, diffuse cognitive impairment. The role of neuropsychological assessment in detecting early disease progression is discussed, mainly for rare pathologies whose evolution may be extremely variable.
authors: a Don Gnocchi Foundation , Milan , Italy.|b Division of Pediatric Oncology , Catholic University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Peruzzi
authors: a Don Gnocchi Foundation , Milan , Italy.
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Iuvone
authors: b Division of Pediatric Oncology , Catholic University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Ruggiero
authors: c Department of Bioimaging and Radiological Sciences , Catholic University , Rome , Italy.
authors: Cesare
authors: C
authors: Colosimo
authors: a Don Gnocchi Foundation , Milan , Italy.
authors: Maria Chiara
authors: MC
authors: Stefanini
authors: b Division of Pediatric Oncology , Catholic University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors: Riccardo
authors: R
authors: Riccardi
mesh_terms: D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000150:complications*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D002648:Child; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D013788:Thalamus / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: bithalamic tumor; children; cognitive deterioration; neuropsychological assessment; progressive neurological diseases; visual spatial memory