Article

Multiple factors contribute to neuropsychological outcome in children with posterior fossa tumors.

Australian Centre for Child Neuropsychological Studies, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Department of Psychology, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia.
Developmental Neuropsychology (impact factor: 2.56). 02/2007; 32(2):729-48. DOI:10.1080/87565640701376151
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT Cognitive deficits are frequently reported in children treated for posterior fossa (PF) tumors. A range of tumor, treatment, medical and treatment complications have been implicated in causing a variety of cognitive deficits. The aim of this study is to identify factors that influence intelligence, attention and information processing in these children. Thirty-five children (aged 4-16) with PF tumors attending the Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Australia, were enrolled into a prospective, repeated measures design. Neuropsychological assessments were conducted at diagnosis and at 12 month intervals for three years. The results find that the PF tumor, hydrocephalus, white matter injury and radiation therapy have various impacts on intelligence, attention and information processing skills, and contribute to the long term outcome in children treated for PF tumor. The neurological structures that subserve the efficient function of attention and information processing are particularly vulnerable to those factors.

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Keywords

12 month intervals
 
Cognitive deficits
 
hydrocephalus
 
influence intelligence
 
information processing
 
information processing skills
 
measures design
 
Neuropsychological assessments
 
PF
 
PF tumor
 
PF tumors
 
posterior fossa
 
prospective
 
Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne
 
subserve
 
term outcome
 
treatment complications
 
white matter injury