Neuropsychological studies of children who have brain tumors have yielded diverse results with respect to identifying factors that contribute to poor intellectual outcome. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between pre- and perioperative events, tumor-related factors, and the neuropsychological status of children diagnosed with astrocytoma. Events that could potentially be detrimental to neuropsychological outcome were quantified utilizing a new "neurological severity score." The Neurological Severity Score was developed as a research tool to test our hypothesis that ultimate intellectual outcome is a result of cumulative, interactive insults on the central nervous system. This study constitutes a first step in examining the predictive value of the Neurological Severity Score by evaluating its correlation with baseline neuropsychological status. Fifty-nine children who had astrocytoma (36 supratentorial and 23 infratentorial) received complete neurological and neuropsychological evaluations within 3 months of diagnosis. Each child's neurological history and examination results were scored by an independent observer using the Neurological Severity Score. Neuroimages obtained at diagnosis and at the time of neuropsychological testing were evaluated as well. For the group as a whole, memory, attention, and motor abilities were significantly below age-appropriate norms, whereas intelligence, language, and academic skills were preserved. Patterns of deficits were identified and related to tumor site. There were no significant differences in mean neuropsychological domain scores between groups based on gender, pre-versus post-operative status, ethnicity, tumor grade, or abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The Neurological Severity Score was significantly inversely correlated with visual-spatial skills, memory, attention, performance IQ, and global IQ. In conclusion, among all the medical and neurological factors present at diagnosis, the neurological severity score had the highest correlation with neuropsychological scores. This instrument has promise as a research tool in investigations of the psychological effects of cancer and its treatment on children.
The preoperative delayed memory performance on the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure (Lezak, 1983) of 54 patients with complex partial seizures of temporal lobe origin was analyzed using 3 different indices. One index (composite) was derived using a common scoring method that included both spatial and figural aspects of memory in its score. The other two indices were derived emphasizing either spatial or figural aspects of memory for the elements of the figure separately. All 3 indices distinguished between individuals with right-sided (RTLE) and left-sided (LTLE) seizure onset. However, spatial memory was significantly lower than figural memory in individuals with RTLE as compared to those with LTLE. Both the spatial and figural memory indices were significantly lower in the presence of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evidence for hippocampal selerosis in individuals with RTLE. Results suggest that while both the spatial and figural aspects of nonverbal memory are sensitive to right hippocampal dysfunction, figural memory may be less vulnerable to the effects of RTLE. (JINS, 1996, 2, 535–540.)
PURPOSE: A method has been proposed to calculate ventilation maps from 4DCT images. Weekly 4DCT data were acquired for lung cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy. The purpose of our work was to use ventilation maps calculated from weekly 4DCT data to study how lung function changed throughout radiation therapy METHODS: Spatial registration and a density‐changed based model were used to compute weekly ventilation maps for 6 patients. We quantitatively analyzed the data by defining regions of interest (ROIs) according to dose and lung lobe and by tracking the weekly ventilation of each ROI throughout treatment. The slope of the linear fit to the weekly ventilation data was used to evaluate change in lung function throughout treatment. The dose ROI ventilation data were used to study how function changed throughout treatment as a function of dose. The lung lobe ROI ventilation data were used to investigate the impact of tumor reduction on ventilation change throughout treatment. RESULTS: We found that 3 patients had an increase in weekly ventilation as a function of dose and 3 patients had no change or a slight decrease in ventilation as a function of dose. When the tumor volume in a lobe was visibly reduced, ventilation increased, and when the tumor volume was not visibly reduced, the ventilation distribution did not change. The average slope of the group of lobes that contained tumors that shrank was 1.18 (indicating an increase in ventilation), while the average slope of the group that contained tumors that did not shrink was −0.31 (p = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS: We did not find a consistent pattern of ventilation change as a function of dose. The weekly lobe ventilation data indicated that when tumor volume shrinks, ventilation increases, and when the thoracic anatomy is not visibly changed, ventilation is likely to remain unchanged.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.