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01-04-2015 | Original Paper

Morphological brain lesions of pediatric cerebellar tumor survivors correlate with inferior neurocognitive function but do not affect health-related quality of life

Authors: Rajiv Kumar Khajuria, Friederike Blankenburg, Ines Wuithschick, Stefan Rueckriegel, Ulrich-Wilhelm Thomale, Michael Mansour, Pablo Hernáiz Driever

Published in: Child's Nervous System | Issue 4/2015

Abstract

Purpose

We aimed to determine whether extent of morphological brain injury in pediatric cerebellar tumor survivors correlates with neurocognitive function and health-related quality of life (HrQoL).

Methods

Seventeen cerebellar pilocytic astrocytoma (cPA) and 17 medulloblastoma (MB) survivors were examined for HrQoL, intelligence using the German version of the WISC-III, attention, working memory, and visual motor coordination. MRI scans were analyzed for extent of posterior fossa brain tissue loss.

Results

We found significant correlations between amount and extent morphological brain lesions of pediatric cerebellar tumor survivors and several cognitive impairments including intelligence and attention in both patient groups. These were in total more pronounced in MB patients when compared to cPA patients. Still, function loss and brain lesions detected on conventional MRI did not influence HrQoL.

Conclusions

These findings support the notion that long-term neurocognitive deficits of pediatric posterior fossa tumor survivors significantly correlate with brain tissue damage. The cerebellum plays a role in regulating higher-order functions. On the contrary, the extent brain injury is not detected by HrQoL assessment.

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Title: Morphological brain lesions of pediatric cerebellar tumor survivors correlate with inferior neurocognitive function but do not affect health-related quality of life
Authors: Rajiv Kumar Khajuria
Friederike Blankenburg
Ines Wuithschick
Stefan Rueckriegel
Ulrich-Wilhelm Thomale
Michael Mansour
Pablo Hernáiz Driever
Publication date: 01-04-2015
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Child's Nervous System / Issue 4/2015
Print ISSN: 0256-7040
Electronic ISSN: 1433-0350
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-015-2635-4

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Morphological brain lesions of pediatric cerebellar tumor survivors correlate with inferior neurocognitive function but do not affect health-related quality of life

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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