A longitudinal neuropsychological study of partial brain radiation in adults with brain tumors

Abstract

Partial brain fractionated RT was not associated with adverse neuropsychological effects through the first 2 years following therapy.

Cognitive and radiological effects of radiotherapy in patients with low-grade glioma: long-term follow-up

“…In cross-sectional studies, clear-cut cognitive defi cits after focal radiotherapy have rarely been reported, and then only with a short follow-up. 8,[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] One study reports selective cognitive defi cits 6 years after treatment with focal radiotherapy, 23 whereas two other studies report few cognitive sequelae 6 years or more after radiotherapy. 8,9 However, in our study, which had a mean follow-up of 12 years, we found signifi cant deterioration in the domain of attentional functioning in patients who received radiotherapy.…”

“…Several other studies have concluded that factors other than radiotherapy account for cognitive sequelae in patients with LGG. 17,18,21,33 We previously reported that, among other things, the tumour seems to contribute to the development of late cognitive defi cits in patients with LGG. Because the patients in our study were not randomly assigned according to their radiotherapy status, no defi nite answer can be given as to whether the reported cognitive deterioration is exclusively due to radiotherapy.…”

“…16 However, the progression of cognitive defi cits might become apparent only after several years (ie, >6 years, according to our previous report). 8,9,[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] If this is the case, the eff ect of cognitive decline versus early tumour progression should be taken into account when treatment plans are defi ned.…”

Neuropsychological dysfunction associated with cancer and cancer therapies: a conceptual review of an emerging target

“…Neuropsychological test results revealed 80% of the patients exhibited impaired memory, approximately 33% manifested slowed visuomotor speed, executive dysfunction, and poor fine motor dexterity. Others have failed to find significant late-delayed neurocognitive dysfunction as a result of radiotherapy (Vigliani et al, 1996;Torres et al, 2003). Differences in reported radiotherapy-associated cognitive dysfunction (incidence estimates that vary from 0 to 86%) may in part be related to differences in treatment variables, study methodology, and the disease that is being treated.…”

Neuroanatomical target theory as a predictive model for radiation-induced cognitive decline

“…32 Recently, a definitive cognitive decline in 17 adult patients receiving partial brain irradiation was not seen through the first 2 years after RT. 33 The potential shortcoming of this study, and the likely reason it did not show a definitive decline in function, is that patients receiving partial brain irradiation were treated as a homogenous population. Partial brain irradiation and the gradients of radiation dose created by it can vary greatly between individuals, their tumors, and tumor histologies.…”