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Cancer Resources > Cancer News > Cancer News from Reuters > Reuters Cancer News > 2009 > November
Lasting cognitive problems seen in survivors of childhood CNS cancers
Last Updated: 2009-11-03 14:31:07 -0400 (Reuters Health)
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Survivors of childhood CNS tumors have consistently been shown to be at risk for residual neurocognitive impairment, and a new study indicates that in many cases, deficits persist into adulthood.
The study also found lower levels of education, employment and income in adult survivors of childhood CNS tumors compared with their siblings and survivors of other types of cancer.
"This underscores the need for continued attention to mitigating the long-term negative effects of CNS malignancies and their treatment," Dr. Leah Ellenberg of the University of California, Los Angeles and colleagues conclude in the November issue of Neuropsychology.
The researchers investigated the neurocognitive status of 802 childhood CNS cancer survivors at least 16 years from their diagnosis and in 5937 survivors of non-CNS cancers such as leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, and bone tumors, as well as 382 siblings of CNS cancer survivors.
More than 50% of survivors of childhood CNS malignancy reported significant impairment on at least one task efficiency item on a 25-item questionnaire, "more than three times as many as the sibling cohort," the authors report. CNS cancer survivors also had greater difficulty with memory and emotional regulation and organization.
The complications of paralysis, stroke, or hearing impairment were highly predictive of neuropsychological dysfunction in survivors of CNS malignancy.
Total or partial brain irradiation and ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement were associated with greater impairment on task efficiency and memory.
CNS cancer survivors with impaired neurocognitive function demonstrated significantly lower educational attainment (p < 0.01), less household income (p < 0.001), less full time employment (p < 0.001) and fewer marriages (p < 0.001).
"It will be important," the researchers say, "to investigate the benefits of early and consistent use of compensatory strategies, including assistive technology, transitional facilities to promote independent living, and job placement and coaching, to enhance functional outcomes."
Neuropsychology 2009;23:705-717.
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