title: [Cognitive Function in Patients Before and After Micro-neurosurgical Resection of Frontal Brain Tumors].
abstract: Patients with lesions of the prefrontal cortex as a result of frontal brain tumors (intra- and extra-axial) can show impairments of executive functions 1 2 3 4. Although there are a large number of psychological tests, the detection of impairments of relevant everyday executive functions in these patients is still extremely difficult. In 30 patients with lesions of the prefrontal cortex, the executive functions were tested with the Behavioral Assessment of Dysexecutive Syndrome (BADS) and 21 patients were also followed up postoperatively. Additionally, if possible, the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), a widely used executive function test, and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) for general cognitive performance were conducted. Pre- and postoperatively, a total of 16 patients were followed up with all three tests. The aim was to investigate the neuropsychological assessment pre- and postoperatively, to evaluate it in terms of deficits and changes in performance and to ensure that no new relevant everyday cognitive deficits arose. Preoperatively, only one patient, who could not be tested post-surgery, showed a reduced overall profile value in the BADS.  In all tested patients, there was no evidence of deterioration of cognitive status 8 - 12 weeks postoperatively. Further investigations using fMRI should be used to clarify whether the results obtained should be interpreted as neuroplastic adaptations of prefrontal cognitive functions or as a failure to detect deficits due to a lack of sensitivity of the tests used.
authors.affiliation: Neurologische Klinik und Poliklinik & Deutsches Schwindel- und Gleichgewichtszentrum DSGZ, Klinikum der Universität München.
authors.forename: O E
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Eren
authors.affiliation: Neurologische Klinik und Poliklinik & Deutsches Schwindel- und Gleichgewichtszentrum DSGZ, Klinikum der Universität München.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Straube
authors.affiliation: Neurochirurgie, LMU Muenchen-Grosshadern, München.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Tonn
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Orthopädie, Physikalische Medizin und Rehabilitation, Klinikum der Universität München.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ilmberger
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Orthopädie, Physikalische Medizin und Rehabilitation, Klinikum der Universität München.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kraft
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000523:psychology*; D014888:Wechsler Scales; D055815:Young Adult