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Oncology and haematology

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    G129 EARLY COGNITIVE OUTCOME IN CHILDREN TREATED FOR BRAIN TUMOURS IN COMPARISON WITH MATCHED NORMAL CONTROLS

    R. Shortman1, R. J. McCarter1, A. Penn2, S. Lowis2, M. Stevens2, A. Curran1, P. M. Sharples2.1Frenchay Hospital, Bristol, UK; 2Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, Bristol, UK

    Introduction: Brain tumours are the second most common childhood malignancy. There is evidence that cognitive function is reduced in long term brain tumour survivors but few data exist concerning early outcome. The relative contributions of tumour, surgery, and radiotherapy/chemotherapy to cognitive outcome remain to be defined.

    Aims: To measure cognitive outcome in children with brain tumours one month after diagnosis.

    Design Methods: Longitudinal prospective study of children with brain tumours admitted to the Regional Neuroscience Centre compared with normal children matched for age, sex, and socioeconomic status. Intellectual outcome was assessed using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC III UK), the Wechsler Primary and Preschool Scale of Intelligence – Revised. Attention was assessed using the Test of Everyday Attention (TEACh). Memory was assessed using the Children’s Memory Scales (CMS). Academic status was assessed using the Wechsler Quicktest.

    Results: Twenty two tumour patients and 22 matched controls have been studied to date. The mean age was 10.7 years, range 3.8–16.73; 12 were boys, 10 girls. There were significant differences between tumour patients and controls with respect to Processing Speed Index of WISC (p 0.002), selective attention (Sky Search, p 0.019), the general memory scale of the CMS (p 0.046), and the Wechsler Quicktest Composite score (p 0.025). There were no significant differences between tumour patients and controls with regard to verbal IQ (VIQ) (p 0.063), performance IQ (PIQ) (p 0.132), or other aspects of cognitive function.

    Conclusion: Children newly diagnosed with brain tumours have significant impairments in cognitive function that could negatively impact on their performance in …

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