title: Standard of Care for Neuropsychological Monitoring in Pediatric Neuro-Oncology: Lessons From the Children's Oncology Group (COG).
abstract: As the mortality of pediatric cancers has decreased, focus on neuropsychological morbidities of treatment sequelae have increased. Neuropsychological evaluations are essential diagnostic tools that assess cognitive functioning and neurobiological integrity. These tests provide vital information to support ongoing medical care, documenting cognitive morbidity and response to interventions. We frame standards for neuropsychological monitoring of pediatric patients with CNS malignancy or who received cancer-directed therapies involving the CNS and discuss billing for these services in the United States in the context of clinical research. We describe a cost-effective, efficient model of neuropsychological monitoring that may increases access to neuropsychological care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Neuropsychology, Children's National Health System and The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, District of Columbia.
authors.forename: Karin S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Robert B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Noll
authors.affiliation: University of Colorado Denver, Children's Hospital of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado.
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Annett
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Behavioral Research Section, City of Hope Medical Center, Duarte, California.
authors.forename: Sunita K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Andrea F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Patenaude
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas.
authors.forename: Leanne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Embry
mesh_terms: D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D009462:Neurology / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000592:standards*; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D059039:Standard of Care; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States
keywords: late effects; pediatric oncology; psychology