QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:
Home | Help | Feedback | Subscriptions | Archive | Search | Table of Contents

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 9/1/53    most recent 15228517-2006-012v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (4) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bosma, I. Articles by Klein, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation

The course of neurocognitive functioning in high-grade glioma patients¹

Departments of Neurology (I.B., M.J.V., J.J.H., T.J.P.), Medical Psychology (H.M. van der P., M.K.), Neurosurgery (W.P.V.), and Radiation Oncology (B.J.S.), VU University Medical Center, 1081 HV Amsterdam; Department of Neurology, Medical Center Haaglanden, 2501 CK The Hague, and University Medical Center Utrecht, 3508 GA Utrecht (M.J.B.T.); and Division of Psychosocial Research and Epidemiology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066 CX Amsterdam (N.K.A., M.M.); The Netherlands

² Address reprint requests to Ingeborg Bosma, M.D., VU University Medical Center, Department of Neurology, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands (i.bosma{at}vumc.nl).

We evaluated the course of neurocognitive functioning in newly diagnosed high-grade glioma patients and specifically the effect of tumor recurrence. Following baseline assessment (after surgery and before radiotherapy), neurocognitive functioning was evaluated at 8 and 16 months. Neurocognitive summary measures were calculated to detect possible deficits in the domains of (1) information processing, (2) psychomotor function, (3) attention, (4) verbal memory, (5) working memory, and (6) executive functioning. Repeated-measures analyses of covariance were used to evaluate changes over time. Thirty-six patients were tested at baseline only. Follow-up data were obtained for 32 patients: 14 had a follow-up at 8 months, and 18 had an additional follow-up at 16 months. Between baseline and eight months, patients deteriorated in information-processing capacity, psychomotor speed, and attentional functioning. Further deterioration was observed between 8 and 16 months. Of 32 patients, 15 suffered from tumor recurrence before the eight-month follow-up. Compared with recurrence-free patients, not only did patients with recurrence have lower information-processing capacity, psychomotor speed, and executive functioning, but they also exhibited a more pronounced deterioration between baseline and eight-month follow-up. This difference could be attributed to the use of antiepileptic drugs in the patient group with recurrence. This study showed a marked decline in neurocognitive functioning in HGG patients in the course of their disease. Patients with tumor progression performed worse on neurocognitive tests than did patients without progression, which could be attributed to the use of antiepileptic drugs. The possibility of deleterious effects is important to consider when prescribing antiepileptic drug treatment.

Key Words: high-grade glioma • neurocognitive functioning • neuropsychological assessment • tumor recurrence • prospective study

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Maschio, L. Dinapoli, A. Zarabla, and B. Jandolo LETTER TO THE EDITOR: In Reference to Bosma et al. (Neuro-Oncology 2007;9:53-62) Neuro-oncol, February 1, 2008; 10(1): 106 - 107. [Full Text] [PDF]